ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Prosecutions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions launched by the Crown Prosecution Service in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 where the accused had been held in prison on remand were dropped; and if he will make a statement.

Dominic Grieve: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of a defendant's custodial status when the case is finalised. This information could be obtained only by examining all of the CPS's files, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Prosecutions: Business

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether he proposes that deferred prosecution agreements for companies which report financial wrongdoing should apply to offences committed prior to the implementation of such agreements.

Crispin Blunt: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Justice.
	My Department is continuing to work with the Solicitor-General and his officials on the introduction of deferred prosecution agreements, a new approach to dealing with economic crime committed by commercial organisations. I expect to publish a consultation document shortly.
	The consultation document will address the question of whether deferred prosecution agreements will be capable of being applied to criminal wrongdoing committed prior to the introduction of such agreements.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Metals: Theft

Jonathan Lord: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the cost was of metal theft from Church of England property in (a) Woking constituency, (b) Surrey and (c) England in each of the last three years.

Tony Baldry: The insurance cover available from Ecclesiastical Insurance who insure the majority of churches in England has changed over the years in question, so a true year-on-year comparison of cost is difficult to make.
	(a) Figures are also not available specifically for the Woking constituency.
	(b) The following table illustrates the claims made by Church of England churches on their Ecclesiastical Insurance policies for theft of metal. These figures are from the county of Surrey, the diocese of Guildford and across England. The figures are likely to be higher in reality as not all the churches concerned will have made claims on their insurance unless the value of the claim exceeded the insurance excess which will have varied from church to church.
	Total value of cost to the Church of England for:
	2010 was around £6.5 million of which around £2.3 million was covered by insurance.
	2011 was around £10 million of which around £4.4 million was covered by insurance.
	
		
			  2008 2009 2010 2011 Total 
			  Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) Claims Cost (£) 
			 Guildford diocese 43 150,586 20 62,322 35 29,999 63 120,043 161 362,950 
			 Surrey 72 208,934 32 76,277 72 79,093 112 170,701 288 535,005 
			 England n/a n/a 914 173,315 1,712 2,218,830 2,516 4,376,814 5,142 6,768,959

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 2010, what types of procedures were carried out on the 417 macaques who were used for the primary purpose of protection of man, animals or the environment.

Lynne Featherstone: The procedures involved the collection of blood or urine for the development and validation of tests in support of toxicological, safety or environmental evaluation of substances and were classified as “mild” severity.

Asylum

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the UK Border Agency does not recognise asylum seekers from non-Arab ethnic groups from Darfur as members of such groups; and what assessment she has made of the likelihood of non-Arab Darfuri asylum seekers returned from the UK to Sudan being at risk of detention and torture.

Damian Green: Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with the UK Border Agency's obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. Claimants who meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 convention are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage the UK Border Agency's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. If their application is refused, they have a right of appeal to the courts. In this way the UK Border Agency ensures that it provides protection to those who need it.
	Asylum claims by Sudanese nationals are dealt with in the same way as claims from every other country of origin. This includes assessment of nationality and, where appropriate, ethnicity, using information provided by the claimants themselves, relevant case law and objective country of origin information.

Asylum

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likelihood of the ethnicity of the 15 non-Arab Sudanese in detention at Campsfield facility and 13 at the Dover facility making them subject to detention and torture if returned to Sudan.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency carefully considers all applications on their individual merits, and will offer protection to those who genuinely need it. Those who are found not to have a right to be here are expected to leave voluntarily. If they fail to do so, the UK Border Agency will seek to remove them.
	The UK Border Agency only enforces the return of individuals whom it is satisfied have no right to be in the United Kingdom and who do not leave voluntarily.

Children: EU Action

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plans to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse; and if she will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plans to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK signed the Council of Europe's Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in May 2008. Officials across a number of Government Departments are currently considering the steps that would be required to ratify and implement the Council of Europe convention.

Cycling: Pavements

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that the Metropolitan Police Service enforces the law against persons cycling on pavements.

Nick Herbert: The way that the police enforce the law, how they carry out their operational duties and how they deploy the resources available to them are matters for their professional judgment and discretion, taking into account concerns that may be brought to their attention and demands with which they are faced.

Deportation: Gary McKinnon

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the US Administration on the deportation of Gary McKinnon.

Damian Green: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of national and international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) charged and (b) convicted under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003.

Lynne Featherstone: Information on the number of people charged under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 is not centrally held. There had been no prosecutions under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 in England and Wales, from its introduction in March 2004 up to the end of 2010.
	Research suggests that there may be a number of barriers to prosecution, including pressure from the family or wider community to remain silent. Multi-agency practice guidelines on handling cases of female genital mutilation were published by the Home Office in February 2011; and the Crown Prosecution Service published guidance for prosecutors in September 2011.

Hizb ut-Tahrir

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she last reviewed whether to proscribe the group Hizbut-Tahrir.

James Brokenshire: It is not Government policy to comment on whether an organisation is, or is not, under consideration for proscription. However, Hizb ut-Tahrir is an organisation about which the Government have significant concerns and its activities are kept under close review.

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will discuss with her Dutch counterpart the effects of the independent National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings on the Dutch Government's human trafficking policies.

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will discuss with (a) her Finnish counterpart and (b) the Finnish Ombudsman for Minorities the effects of the independent National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings on the Finnish Government's human trafficking policies.

Damian Green: Discussions take place at official level on a regular basis between the United Kingdom and other EU member states to exchange national experiences, develop best practice and coordinate efforts across Europe to tackle human trafficking.

Human Trafficking Ministerial Group

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place on the agenda of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking the establishment of an independent National Rapporteur on Human Trafficking.

Damian Green: The agenda of the most recent meeting of the Group included an item on how it will perform the role of national rapporteur.

Human Trafficking: Children

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British nationals were found to be victims of child trafficking in each year since 2000.

Damian Green: Since April 2009 a multi-agency framework has been in place for identifying and protecting victims of trafficking called the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). A breakdown of identified numbers of child trafficking victims by nationality can be found on the United Kingdom's Human Trafficking Centre website at:
	http://www.soca.gov.uk/about-soca/about-the-ukhtc
	Prior to 1 April 2009, the UK did not have a national system to formally confirm trafficking victim status.

Immigration: Students

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-EU migrants have leave to remain in the UK as a student, excluding student visitors.

Damian Green: holding answer 18 April 2012
	The available statistics relate to the number of visas issued and grants of an extension of stay in the study category (excluding EEA nationals) and are published in tables be.04, be.06.s and ex.06 in the Home Office statistical release ‘Immigration Statistics’.
	These data will include some students who have not yet entered the country and some who have subsequently left the country. Individuals could be counted more than once within the data.
	A copy of the latest release, ‘Immigration Statistics October-December 2011’, is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/

Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place on the agenda of the Inter Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking and the UK Human Trafficking Centre the extent to which it plans to collect statistics on victims of human trafficking from police, local authorities, non-governmental organisations and churches.

Damian Green: Through the Officials' Human Trafficking Strategy Board, the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group will consider what data are available to fulfil its national rapporteur function.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer the letter sent to the Minister for Immigration by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 13 February with regard to Mr Muhammad Naeem Ajmal.

Damian Green: I refer the right hon. Member to my letter of 26 March 2012.

National Policing Improvement Agency

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to her written ministerial statement of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 94-95WS, on the National Policing Improvement Agency, whether she intends to mandate police and crime commissioners to co-operate with (a) the police ICT company and (b) her Department concerning the airwave system and its replacement.

Nick Herbert: At this stage, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), sees no need to mandate PCCs to co-operate with the police ICT company or her Department concerning the Airwave system and its replacement. However, mandation powers remain available if necessary.

Passports

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many passports confiscated by nightclub security staff were returned to the Identity and Passport Service by police forces in England and Wales in each of the last two years; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many passports were returned to the Identity and Passport Service having been confiscated by nightclub door security staff in the latest period for which figures are available; how many of these were destroyed; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what powers police officers have to (a) hold passports seized by nightclub security staff and (b) destroy passports seized in this way; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: In 2010, almost 55,000 passports were returned to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) and in 2011 approximately 60,000. Information is not collected centrally on the reasons for the return of the passport or the source from which these passports are returned. All passports returned to the IPS by a third party are automatically cancelled for security reasons. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 sets out police powers to seize and retain material considered as evidence of an offence.

Passports: Scotland

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK passports have been issued to British nationals residing in Scotland in each year since 1998; and what the cost was to the public purse in each year.

Damian Green: The Identity and Passport Service does not hold information on the basis of geographical location of the applicant. Passports are issued to applicants on a self-funding basis.

Peter Cruddas

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department have had with Peter Cruddas since 12 May 2010.

Damian Green: holding answer 18 April 2012
	Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the Prevent programme in the last year for which figures are available; and for what purposes that money was spent in each local authority area concerned.

James Brokenshire: In 2011-12, £9.142 million was spent on the Home Office OSCT Prevent programme, of which £1.180 million was spent in 23 local authority areas to provide Prevent local co-ordinators (£1.133 million) and in three local authority areas to fund local Prevent projects (£0.047 million).
	The 23 local authority areas receiving funding for Prevent local co-ordinators and the three local authority areas receiving funding for Prevent projects are as follows:
	Local authorities in receipt of funding for Prevent coordinators
	Barking and Dagenham
	Birmingham
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Bradford
	Brent
	Camden
	Derby
	Ealing
	Hackney
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Lambeth
	Leeds
	Lewisham
	Luton
	Manchester
	Newham
	Redbridge
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Tower Hamlets
	Waltham Forest
	Wandsworth
	Westminster.
	Local authorities in receipt of funding for Prevent projects
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Leeds
	Westminster.

Proceeds of Crime

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider reviewing the terms of the Proceeds of Crime Recovery Fund to allow churches to make claims.

James Brokenshire: The Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme exists to incentivise law enforcement agencies involved in recovering criminal assets. The Government have no current plans to change the scope of the scheme but will keep the position under review.

Refugees: Asylum

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances a stateless person would be expected to provide a passport when making an application for asylum in the UK.

Damian Green: All applicants for asylum are expected to provide documents relating to their identity, nationality or country of habitual residence in so far as it is reasonable for them to do so. However, it is recognised that in some circumstances this will not be possible.

Refugees: Kuwait

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on applications to the UK Border Agency from the Bidoon people; what changes there have been to such policy since May 2010; whether Ministers in her Department have issued instructions to UK Border Agency staff on such applications since May 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the UK Border Agency's obligations under the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees and the European convention on human rights (ECHR).
	Applications from Bidoon people are considered in line with the current policy advice in the latest Kuwait Operational Guidance note, issued in May 2011 and published on the UK Border Agency website at:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/countryspecificasylumpolicyogns/

Rob Whiteman: Pay

Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if her Department will consider decreasing Rob Whiteman's salary to reflect his reduced responsibilities as chief executive of the UK Border Agency.

Damian Green: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 5 March 2012, Official Report, column 526W.

Sarah Sothern

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department have had with Sarah Southern since 12 May 2010.

Damian Green: holding answer 18 April 2012
	Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many itinerant metal collectors her Department estimates are not registered under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964.

James Brokenshire: Information relating to the registration of itinerant metal collectors under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964, is held and maintained by the relevant local authorities rather than centrally by the Home Office.
	We have made no estimate of the number of itinerant collectors who are not registered under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964.

Theft: Metals

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many containers containing stolen scrap metal have been seized leaving UK ports in each of the last 10 years.

Damian Green: Border Force does not collect this information.

Theft: Metals

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro-businesses will apply to her plans to ban cash payments for scrap metal.

James Brokenshire: The moratorium on domestic regulation for micro business will not apply to the proposed prohibition of cash payments for the purchase of scrap metal by scrap metal dealers.

Theft: Metals

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be responsible for enforcing a ban on cash payments for scrap metal; and what resources will be available for that purpose.

James Brokenshire: Local authorities with the support of the police are responsible for tackling metal theft. The ban on cash payments will make it easier for them to gather the evidence to prosecute the new offence and use their resources more effectively to stop metal thieves.

Theft: Metals

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which forms of scrap metal a ban on cash payments will apply.

James Brokenshire: The ban on cash payments will apply to all forms of scrap metal handled by scrap metal dealers as defined in the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964.

Theft: Metals

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for exempting itinerant collectors from a ban on cash payments for scrap metal.

James Brokenshire: The exemption will only be for those itinerant collectors who have firstly registered with their local authority as a scrap metal business under Section l and then applied for and been granted an order under Section 3(1) of the 1964 Scrap Metal Dealers Act. The Section 3(1) order was intended to spare very small local businesses from some of the record-keeping requirements that the Act places on larger dealers, and can be granted by the local authority only in consultation with the chief police officer. As enforcement of the new offence of cash payment will be reliant on those record-keeping requirements, including the additional requirement inserted by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, it is appropriate that those who are currently exempt from those requirements are also exempt from the new offence. However, by definition these itinerant collectors have no capacity to process scrap metal, can only collect from domestic dwellings and will need to sell whatever they collect to a larger dealer who is subject to the new offence.
	We will work with the Local Government Association and Association of Chief Police Officers on advice for local authorities and police forces on enforcement of the requirements of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act and the criteria for issuing any new Section 3(1) orders.

Theft: Metals

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward the date of the review of the offence of buying scrap metal for cash.

James Brokenshire: We will review the impact of the proposed new offence after five years, in line with current guidance on new regulation. In the interim, we will be monitoring the effectiveness of this measure as part our ongoing efforts to reduce metal theft and strengthen the licensing regime for scrap metal dealers.

Travellers

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many Travellers without fixed address were stopped by police for non-payment of road tax in each constabulary area in England in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many Travellers without fixed address were stopped by police for not having a licence to tow a caravan, in each constabulary area in England in each of the last five years.

Nick Herbert: The information requested is not collated centrally.

UK Border Force

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with frontline staff on the separation of the UK Border Force from the UK Border Agency.

Damian Green: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what proportion of cases under the new statutory schemes with a positive maintenance liability the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission expect the weekly child maintenance liability to be (a) £5 or under, (b) £10 or under, (c) £20 or under, (d) £30 or under, (e) £40 or under, (f) £50 or under and (g) more than £50.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	Letter from Noel Shanahan
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what proportion of cases under the new statutory schemes with a positive maintenance liability the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission expect the weekly child maintenance liability to be (a) £5 or under, (b) £10 or under, (c) £20 or under, (d) £30 or under, (e) £40 or under, (f) £50 or under and (g) more than £50.
	The following table shows the estimated proportion of cases in each of the requested ongoing weekly maintenance bands from March 2010 where a positive maintenance liability was estimated to exist. This is based on internal research using a 1% sample of the then current caseload.
	The actual proportions under the new statutory scheme will depend on client behaviour and in particular which clients opt to open cases. in the following figures, a similar new scheme client mix has been used as exists with current schemes.
	
		
			 New scheme assessment amount Proportion (percentage) 
			 £5 and under 6 
			 Between £5.01 and £10 35 
			 Between £10.01 and £20 5 
			 Between £20.01 and £30 7 
			 Between £30.01 and £40 10 
			 Between £40.01 and £50 9 
			 £50.01 and above 28

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Health and Safety Executive is taking to raise public awareness of (a) the risks of developing a deep vein thrombosis due to prolonged immobility in the workplace and (b) how deep vein thrombosis can be prevented in the workplace.

Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not produced specific guidance on the risks of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at work. The Department of Health has produced advice on travel-related DVT.
	HSE provides guidance for workers required to be at a workstation for long periods, and for their employers. The guidance primarily addresses the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, but is consistent with that issued by the national health service on DVT. For further information, please see:
	www.hse.gov.uk/msd

Guaranteed Minimum Pensions

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what consideration he has given to introducing cost reducing measures to offset the cost of Guaranteed Minimum Pension equalisation for UK pension schemes;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the administrative burden of the equalisation of Guaranteed Minimum Pensions;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the likely cost to UK pensions schemes of the requirement to equalise Guaranteed Minimum Pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The need to equalise pensions for the effect of the Guaranteed Minimum Pension is longstanding and was reaffirmed in a written ministerial statement on 28 January 2010, Official Report, columns 65-66WS, by my predecessor, the hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle), who said:
	“it is the Government's opinion that, in order to ensure full compliance with European law, trustees and others should act as if existing domestic legislation requires equalisation in respect of differences resulting from GMPs whether or not real comparators exist.”
	It is difficult to estimate the costs of equalisation or the administrative burden, as these will depend on the structure of individual schemes and what they have already done to equalise benefits.
	Part of the recent consultation asked for comments on what could be done to assist schemes in dealing with their equalisation obligations. We are currently considering the responses.

Housing Benefit

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the (a) National Landlords Association and (b) Residential Landlords Association on direct payment of housing benefit to tenants under universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: Under the local housing allowance (LHA) arrangements which were introduced from April 2008, housing benefit is paid directly to tenants in most circumstances. The Government are considering how these arrangements will work under universal credit, including appropriate safeguards to pay the landlord direct where the claimant is unable to manage their rental payments themself.
	The Department regularly attends meetings and other events involving landlords. Lord Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, met with a number of landlord representatives in October 2011.

Pension Credit

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples received the savings element of pension credit in each constituency in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Steve Webb: The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Figures provided are as at August 2010 and August 2011.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made in defining what changes in circumstances will lead to a loss of transitional protection under universal credit.

Chris Grayling: The exact definition of the changes in circumstances that will lead to a loss of transitional protection is under development.
	We will provide more information as soon as it is ready. Full details will be set out in regulations, which will be debated in the House.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of local authority staff required to deliver face-to-face assistance under universal credit.

Chris Grayling: DWP continues to develop the face to face service offering for universal credit claimants with local authority colleagues and as such the number of local authority staff required to deliver the service offering is yet to be finalised.
	The Local Government Association has been working with the Department for Work and Pensions to explore pilot working in preparation for universal credit and the universal credit programme has also set up a Finance and Commercial Working Group, including local authority finance professionals, to inform decisions on resources required by local authorities to support the transition from legacy benefits to universal credit.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what means claimants' documentary evidence in support of universal credit applications will be collected.

Chris Grayling: My Department is currently considering a variety of options for documentary evidence to support a universal credit application. Full details will be set out in the regulations, which will be debated in the House.

HEALTH

Abortion

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish advice provided to him by his Department's civil servants on the unannounced inspection of abortion providers in March 2012.

Anne Milton: We have received serious allegations involving doctors in abortion clinics pre-signing abortion certificates. We have a duty to urgently investigate. Advice was submitted to Ministers in week commencing 12 March.
	The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), subsequently asked that urgent unannounced inspections be carried out to ensure that the law was being upheld, which the Care Quality Commission agreed to do. Disclosure of the advice submitted to Ministers might prejudice the administration of justice through law enforcement proceedings, the carrying out of public bodies regulatory functions, including in relation to professional fitness or competence, and would prejudice the civil service's free and frank provision of advice to Ministers.

Antibiotics

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department is providing for the development of new antibiotics.

Simon Burns: We are actively encouraging further drug development and pressing for greater research collaboration at an international level as recommended in the new European strategic action plan(1).
	(1) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council Action plan against the rising threats from Antimicrobial Resistance (COM (2011) 748).

Asperger’s Syndrome

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take as part of his proposed reforms of adult social care to improve support available for adults with Asperger’s syndrome.

Paul Burstow: The care and support White Paper and progress report on funding reform, planned for spring 2012, will set out the Government's plans for transforming the care and support system.
	It is important that the White Paper sets out sustainable reform for all individuals throughout the time they experience a care need. This will mean ensuring that the system is responsive to a variety of needs, including older people and working age individuals with all types of care need, including those living with Asperger syndrome.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett), on 27 March 2012, Official Report, column 1101W.

Brain: Tumours

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collect data on the average time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis of brain tumours.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not collect statistics regarding average time taken from the onset of symptoms of a primary brain tumour to its diagnosis. However, The National Report of the 2010 Cancer Patient Experience Survey, published in December 2010, included a series of questions about general practitioner (GP) presentation and referrals. The views of over 67,000 cancer patients were included in the survey results and of these 2,382 had brain and central nervous system (CNS) tumours.
	Set out in the following table are the responses of patients with brain and CNS tumours to questions concerning GP presentation and referral, presented alongside the results for all cancers
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  Brain and CNS All cancers 
			 Saw GP no more than twice about cancer related problem before being referred to a hospital doctor 65 75 
			 Waited no more than four weeks before being referred to hospital doctor 90 90 
			 Thought first appointment with hospital doctor was as soon as necessary 73 81 
		
	
	Both national and trust level reports can be found on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_122516
	We are in the process of carrying out the 2011 cancer patient experience survey. It is anticipated that the report on the 2011 survey will be published in June this year.

Brain: Tumours

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage more brain tumour patients to take part in randomised controlled trials.

Simon Burns: Patients can find out about trials in all therapeutic areas including brain tumours on the UK Clinical Trials Gateway website at:
	www.ukctg.nihr.ac.uk
	A version of the gateway has also been launched for smartphones and tablet devices.
	In 2010-11, the equivalent of 19.8% of new incident cancer cases were recruited into studies hosted by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cancer Research Network (NCRN), representing a fivefold increase in recruitment in the decade since the network was established. In the same year, 194 patients were recruited to randomised controlled trials in brain cancer hosted by the NCRN.

Cleveland Fire Brigade

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided for the restructuring of Cleveland Fire Brigade.

Paul Burstow: None.

Health Services: North Yorkshire

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with NHS North of England on the budget for the implementation of the North Yorkshire review.

Simon Burns: No such discussions have taken place between Ministers and NHS North of England.
	Any costs associated with implementation of the North Yorkshire review are a matter for the local national health service.

Information Officers

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in the last two years.

Simon Burns: The reimbursable expenses claimed by press officers in the Department's media centre and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the last five years are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			 Financial year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Department of Health 2,495.45 1,522.18 4,23937 2,773.27 3,606.40 
			 MHRA 682.82 301.60 395.74 273.75 436.65 
		
	
	The figures include travel and subsistence for ministerial visits and other departmental and agency business.

Information Officers

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) are employed by and (b) work for his Department.

Simon Burns: At the end of March 2012, 34 full-time press officers and one part-time press officer work for the Department's media centre, equating to 34.73 full-time equivalent press officers.

Leukaemia: Drugs

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will encourage Bristol Myers Squibb to introduce a patient access scheme to discount the price of dasatinib.

Simon Burns: It is for the manufacturers of a drug to decide if they wish to submit a patient access scheme proposal to the Department for potential consideration as part of a National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence appraisal. The manufacturer of dasatinib has not approached the Department regarding the possibility of a patient access scheme for this drug.

NHS North of England Strategic Health Authority

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much the NHS North of England Strategic Health Authority holds in reserves;
	(2)  what decisions have been made on the apportioning of reserves in strategic health authority accounts following their dissolution.

Simon Burns: At quarter three of 2011-12, the NHS North of England Strategic Health Authority Cluster is forecasting total reserves of £135,000 in their Statements of Financial Position, all of which is classified as revaluation reserve.
	The detailed financial regime for the new health system is still being developed and part of the development will include the treatment of reserves.

North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1156W, on primary care trusts: debts, what recent discussions he has had on the level of debt of the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust; and how it will be dealt with in preparation for the transfer to GP commissioning consortia;
	(2)  what his Department estimates the legacy debt level of the NHS North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust to be.

Simon Burns: North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust is not forecasting to have any legacy debt at the end of 2011-12.
	In accordance with the 2012-13 NHS Operating Framework, there is a requirement that no primary care trust or strategic health authority will plan for a deficit in 2012-13. Primary care trusts carrying legacy debt into 2012-13 must clear it. Furthermore, clinical commissioning groups will have their own budgets from 2013-14. They will not be responsible for resolving primary care trust legacy debt that arose prior to 2011-12. It is expected that aspirant clinical commissioning groups will continue to work closely with primary care trusts and primary care trust clusters in 2012-13, to ensure that no primary care trusts end 2012-13 in a deficit position.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide additional support to Nottingham University Hospitals to prevent the number of cancelled operations from increasing; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This is a matter for the national health service locally. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has not requested support from the Department.
	NHS Midlands and East is aware of this issue and is working closely with the local primary care trust cluster and the trust to ensure action is taken to sustain the provision and management of appropriate services for the local population.

Obesity

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of (a) laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, (b) sleeve gastrectomy, (c) biliopancreatic diversion, (d) Roux-en Y gastric bypass and (e) other types of gastric bypass in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested because the Department does not collect the cost to national health service providers of treating individual diagnoses.

Obesity

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bariatric surgery operations were performed in the NHS in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: In 2010-11 there were 8,209 finished consultant episodes (FCEs)(1) with a primary diagnosis of obesity(2) and a main or secondary operative procedure of bariatric surgery(3).
	(1) Finished Consultant Episode (FCE)
	A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a patient may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. The data does not represent the number of individuals treated.
	(2) Primary diagnosis
	The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital.
	ICD-10 Code used:
	E66 Obesity
	(3) Number of episodes with a (named) main or secondary procedure
	The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and four prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. For example, patients undergoing a 'cataract operation' would tend to have at least two procedures—removal of the faulty lens and the fitting of a new one—counted in a single episode.
	OPCS-4 Codes used:
	G271—Total gastrectomy and excision of surrounding tissue
	G272—Total gastrectomy and anastomosis of oesophagus to duodenum
	G273—Total gastrectomy and interposition of jejunum
	G274—Total gastrectomy and anastomosis of oesophagus to transposed jejunum
	G275—Total gastrectomy and anastomosis of oesophagus to jejunum NEC
	G278—Other specified total excision of stomach
	G279—Unspecified total excision of stomach
	G281—Partial gastrectomy and anastomosis of stomach to duodenum
	G282—Partial gastrectomy and anastomosis of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G283—Partial gastrectomy and anastomosis of stomach to jejunum NEC
	G284—Sleeve gastrectomy and duodenal switch
	G285—Sleeve gastrectomy NEC
	G288—Other specified partial excision of stomach .
	G289—Unspecified partial excision of stomach
	G303—Partitioning of stomach using band
	G304—Partitioning of stomach using staples
	G305—Maintenance of gastric band
	G310—Conversion from previous anastomosis of stomach to duodenum
	G311—Bypass of stomach by anastomosis of oesophagus to duodenum
	G312—Bypass of stomach by anastomosis of stomach to duodenum
	G313—Revision of anastomosis of stomach to duodenum
	G314—Conversion to anastomosis of stomach to duodenum
	G315—Closure of connection of stomach to duodenum
	G316—Attention to connection of stomach to duodenum
	G318—Other specified connection of stomach to duodenum
	G319—Unspecified connection of stomach to duodenum
	G320—Conversion from previous anastomosis of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G321—Bypass of stomach by anastomosis of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G322—Revision of anastomosis of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G323—Conversion to anastomosis of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G324—Closure of connection of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G325—Attention to connection of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G328—Other specified connection of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G329—Unspecified connection of stomach to transposed jejunum
	G330—Conversion from previous anastomosis of stomach to jejunum NEC
	G331—Bypass of stomach by anastomosis of stomach to jejunum NEC
	G332—Revision of anastomosis of stomach to jejunum NEC
	G333—Conversion to anastomosis of stomach to jejunum NEC
	G335—Closure of connection of stomach to jejunum NEC
	G336—Attention to connection of stomach to jejunum
	G338—Other specified other connection of stomach to jejunum
	G339—Unspecified other connection of stomach to jejunum
	G387—Removal of gastric band
	G481—Insertion of gastric bubble
	G482—Attention to gastric bubble
	G716—Duodenal switch
	Additional information:
	Data Quality:
	HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.
	Activity included:
	Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Obesity

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of (a) diabetes treatment and (b) obesity-related illnesses in the latest period for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: In 2010-11, the estimated England level gross expenditure on diabetes was £1.55 billion as reported through the programme budgeting data collection.
	Information on costs for obesity related illnesses is not collected centrally.

Obesity

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has undertaken of the potential benefits of bariatric surgery for obese patients.

Anne Milton: The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the potential benefits of bariatric surgery.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued “Guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children”. This includes recommendations to primary care trusts on when to consider bariatric surgery for people who are obese. These recommendations were informed by an evidence review process, conducted by NICE, on the benefits and effectiveness of surgery.
	In addition, in 2009 the “Cochrane Collaboration published Surgery for Obesity (Review)”, this review assessed the effects of bariatric surgery for obesity. A copy of the review is available at:
	http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003641.pub3/pdf

Prescription Drugs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which angiogenesis drugs are (a) approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), (b) used in the NHS and (c) being tested by NICE; and for which type of cancer they are used.

Simon Burns: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued appraisal guidance making recommendations for the use of the following drugs which have angiogenesis inhibitor properties:
	
		
			 Drug Indication 
			 Bortezomib First-line treatment of multiple myeloma 
			 Cetuximab First-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer 
			 Cetuximab Focally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck 
			 Erlotinib Second-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer 
			 Gefitinib First-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer 
			 Imatinib Chronic myeloid leukaemia 
		
	
	
		
			 Lenalidomide Multiple myeloma in people who have received at least one prior therapy 
			 Nilotinib Chronic or accelerated phase Philadelphia-chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia that is resistant to treatment with standard-dose imatinib or who have imatinib intolerance 
			 Pazopanib Advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma 
			 Sunitinib First-line treatment of advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma 
			 Sunitinib Gastrointestinal stromal tumours 
			 Thalidomide First-line treatment of multiple myeloma 
			 Source: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 
		
	
	The following drugs which have, or may have, angiogenesis inhibitor properties are currently being appraised by NICE or have been referred to NICE's technology appraisal programme for future appraisal.
	
		
			 Drug Indication 
			 Axitinib Advanced renal cell carcinoma after failure of prior systemic treatment 
			 Bevacizumab (with capecitabine) First-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer 
			 Bortezomib Relapsed or refractory follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma 
			 Bosutinib First-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia 
			 Cetuximab First-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer 
			 Erlotinib First-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer 
			 Imatinib First-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia 
			 Lenalidomide Maintenance treatment of multiple myeloma after autologous stem cell transplantation 
			 Lenalidomide Newly diagnosed multiple myeloma 
			 Lenalidomide Myelodysplastic syndromes associated with a deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality in people with red blood cell transfusion dependence 
			 Nilotinib First-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia 
			 Ruxolitinib Myelofibrosis 
			 Vemurafenib Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic BRAF V600 mutation positive malignant melanoma 
			 Source: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 
		
	
	Any drug licensed for use in the United Kingdom may be prescribed for national health service patients if it is not subject to any national restrictions and subject to the clinical judgment of the prescribing clinician.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the next radiotherapy dataset will include information on the provision of Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy including information on waiting times and variations in clinical practice;
	(2)  when he expects the next radiotherapy dataset to be published;
	(3)  with reference to the National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) Guidelines document Radiotherapy: an Introduction for Commissioners and providers, what the evidential basis is for the statement that chemotherapy is the primary modality in two per cent of cancer causes;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2012, Official Report, columns 111-2W, on cancer: health services, for what reasons the collection of outpatient procedure data for cancer treatment is not mandated by his Department.

Paul Burstow: Information on intensity modulation radiotherapy treatment (IMRT) is already included in the Radiotherapy Dataset (RTDS) but the quality of the data is not yet sufficiently robust to provide a detailed analysis. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of the data. To gain a clearer picture on the provision of IMRT in England, the National Radiotherapy Implementation Group has commissioned an IMRT survey. They hope to publish the results later this year.
	The second analysis of the RTDS collection for 2010-11 was published on the National Cancer Services Analysis Team website in March 2012 and can be found at:
	www.canceruk.net/rtservices/rtds/
	It is anticipated that the analysis of 2011-12 data will be completed by the end of 2012.
	With reference to the National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) guidance “Radiotherapy: an Introduction for Commissioners and providers”, the evidential basis for the statement that chemotherapy is the primary modality in 2% of cancer causes can be found at the footnote accompanying this statement. This cites the source as being “Morgan G, Ward R, Barton M. The contribution of cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-years survival in adult malignancies. Clin Oncol 2004; 16: 549-60”. The NCAT guidance can be found at:
	http://ncat.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/Guidance%20for%20commissioners%20and%20others-%20radiotherapy.pdf
	There are a number of reasons that the collection of out-patient data, including cancer data, is not mandated. These include the fact that not all hospitals have systems in place to support collection of this data and because there is currently no definition of an out-patient procedure or list of procedures which should be recorded for out-patient attendances only.
	We are committed to improving the quality of radiotherapy and chemotherapy data, including for those treatments provided in an outpatient setting. The RTDS completed its first year of full data collection in August 2011 and work is under way to improve the quality of the coding in the data returns to enable better analysis. Phased collection for the chemotherapy dataset began in April 2012.

Radiotherapy

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many external beam radiotherapy tariffs have been set for 2012-13; and whether Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) or Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Treatment (SBRT) is included among those tariffs.

Simon Burns: For 2012-13, the use of currencies (the unit of health care for which payment is made) for external beam radiotherapy has been mandated. 19 non-mandatory tariff prices have been published; however, these are indicative and commissioners and providers can agree local pricing.
	Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy/stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment is not included in the non-mandatory tariff prices. We will investigate the potential development of a range of tariffs to incentivise high quality, cost-effective services, including the newest radiotherapy techniques, once the standard radiotherapy tariff has been introduced.

Schizophrenia

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effect of new GP commissioning arrangements on the referral and treatment of schizophrenia.

Paul Burstow: General practitioners (GPs) will be given responsibility to ensure that commissioning decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local health care needs. GPs, in partnership with other local health care professionals, are best placed to understand the mental health needs of local populations and how to work with their local populations to design services that meet those needs.
	Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will work with elected councillors, local authority commissioners and representatives of patients and the public through health and well-being boards to develop a comprehensive analysis of health and social care needs in each local area, and to translate these into action through the joint health and well-being strategy and their own commissioning plans.
	As commissioners, CCGs will need to have strong relationships with a range of health partners. This will provide them with access to information, advice and knowledge to help them make the best possible commissioning decisions. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 places a duty on CCGs to obtain appropriate advice from a broad range of professionals, such as mental health specialists, in commissioning services. CCGs will also access multi-disciplinary advice from clinical networks and senates on the design and delivery of services.

Social Services

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish his Department's social care White Paper.

Paul Burstow: Spring 2012.

Thromboembolism

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism diagnosed in the NHS were attributed to immobility in the workplace in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many cases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism diagnosed in the NHS were attributed to immobility through video gaming in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: This information is not collected by the Department.

Tuberculosis

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to inform patients of the potentially severe side effects of tuberculosis medication.

Anne Milton: Information on treatment for tuberculosis (TB), including the possible side effects of the drugs used is primarily a matter for individual clinicians to discuss with their patients as part of clinical care.
	General information on TB treatment and possible side effects is provided on the websites of NHS Choices and TB Alert, the national charity for TB, which the Department has funded to raise public and healthcare professional awareness of TB.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Sexual Harassment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps her Department is taking to reduce sexual harassment in the workplace.

Lynne Featherstone: Under the Equality Act 2010, which this Government brought into force, sexual harassment in the workplace is unlawful.

Unemployment

Joan Walley: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she is taking to tackle unemployment among women.

Theresa May: The Government are supporting women to move into employment through the Work programme and into self-employment through our business mentoring scheme. Over 10,000 mentors have now registered, 40% of whom are women. We are also encouraging more women to enter apprenticeships; latest figures show that record numbers of women have started their training.

Black and Minority Ethnic Communities

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the effect of recent labour market trends on black and minority ethnic communities.

Maria Miller: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	Tackling unemployment is a priority. There is no single ethnic group where one type of support fits all. That is why we have introduced personalised support, through the Work programme, the Youth Contract and Get Britain Working. More flexibility for providers and Jobcentre Plus means that unlike the prescriptive and short-term programmes delivered under the previous Government, employment support can now be tailored to address an individual including ethnic minority communities.

Christianity

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of inequalities faced by Christians in the UK.

Lynne Featherstone: Within Great Britain, anti-discrimination provisions contained in the Equality Act 2010 are intended to provide equal protection to all religions and religious or philosophical beliefs. No assessment has been made by Government of the effectiveness of these provisions in relation to any specific religion or belief.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Kate Green: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities when she expects to publish her response to the consultation on the future of the Equality and Human Rights Commission entitled Building a Fairer Britain: Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Lynne Featherstone: Our consultation last year Building a Fairer Britain: Reform of Equality and Human Rights Commission sought views on our proposals for reforming the Equality and Human Rights Commission to clarify its functions, focus it on its core activities and improve its transparency, accountability and value for money. Nearly 1,000 responses to the consultation were received. We want the Commission to become a valued and respected national institution, and we will be publishing our response shortly setting out how we plan to proceed.

Human Rights: Religion

Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will bring forward legislative proposals to protect workers who choose to wear a visible cross or crucifix.

Lynne Featherstone: There is nothing in domestic law that denies people the right to wear visibly a religious symbol such as a cross or crucifix while at work. Employers need to have proportionate and legitimate reasons—for instance in order to comply with health and safety requirements—if they want to restrict their employees from openly wearing any religious item.
	We believe that domestic law already strikes the right balance between the rights of employees to manifest their faith and that of employers to place legitimate and appropriate restrictions on that freedom. There are no current plans to change the law in this respect.

Marriage: EU Action

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what consideration she is giving to recent rulings on equal marriage rights from the European Court of Human Rights in preparing legislation on equal marriage rights.

Lynne Featherstone: In a recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights ('Gas and Dubois v. France'), the Court reiterated its earlier ruling in 'Schalk and Kopf v. Austria' that member states are under no obligation to allow same-sex couples access to marriage. The Gas and Dubois decision was incorrectly reported as stating that churches will be forced to marry same-sex couples.
	The Government will continue to consider any relevant court judgments as they arise in relation to UK Government policy.

SCOTLAND

Civil Servants: Codes of Practice

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct occurred in his Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012.

David Mundell: There were no investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct between May 2010 to March 2012.

E-mail

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his policy is on the period for which emails sent and received by (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department are retained; and whether such emails are recoverable from the IT systems in his Department after that period.

David Mundell: E-mail messages that form part of the official record are saved for as long as business needs require and stored corporately in accordance with departmental record management procedures.

Sovereignty

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his communications strategy will be in respect of the referendum on Scottish independence.

David Mundell: The Government believe that any referendum should be legal, fair and decisive. The Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore), and I, and other Ministers, and those from outwith Government will make the positive case that Scotland is stronger in the UK, and the UK is stronger with Scotland in it.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts Vodafone has been awarded by his Department in the last 12 months.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not awarded any contracts to Vodafone in the last 12 months.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contracts his Department has with Vodafone.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has a contract with Vodafone for the provision of mobile telephone and data services under the Government's central framework contract with the company.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times the permanent secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not have a permanent secretary. The director of the Office has not met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Electoral Register: Students

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the number of students not registered to vote.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission has made no recent estimate of the number of students not registered to vote. Such estimates are difficult to make because of the ability of students to register at both their term time and home addresses.
	However, our research into the accuracy and completeness of the electoral registers in Great Britain, published in December 2011, estimated that 55% of 17 to 18-year-olds and 56% of 19 to 24-year-olds were registered in April 2011.
	Our 2005 report “Understanding Electoral Registration”, which used data from the 2001 census, estimated that at that time 22% of students were not registered to vote. However, the fact students can register at both their term time and home addresses means that this is likely to have been an overestimate.

Electoral Register: Students

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to encourage students to register to vote prior to the (a) May 2012 local elections and (b) November 2012 police and crime commissioner elections.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it undertook a public awareness campaign to promote voter registration prior to the May 2012 local elections. The activity included radio adverts and press releases targeted specifically at students, and online advertising, including working with Facebook.
	Subject to funding, the commission will undertake further public awareness work for the November 2012 police and crime commissioner elections, including an information booklet with details of how to register to vote.
	The commission has also provided guidance for electoral registration officers on raising awareness among hard-to-reach groups, including young people, and is monitoring their performance against its published standards framework.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 2.1 of his Department's publication Extra Help Where it is Needed: A new energy company obligation, published in May 2011, what the evidential basis is for the statement that the carbon emission reduction target has been very successful at installing simple loft and cavity wall insulation.

Gregory Barker: Between April 2008 (when the carbon emissions reduction target began) and March 2011, energy suppliers promoted in achievement of their target 1.58 million cavity wall insulation measures and 2.02 million professionally installed loft insulation measures.

Community Energy Saving Programme

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to Ofgem's update on the Community Energy Saving Programme, issue 4, what assessment his Department has made of the prospects of delivering 100% of the programme by December 2012.

Gregory Barker: Ofgem estimate that schemes proposed by obligated companies up to the end of 2011 would, assuming they are delivered in full by the deadline, account for 67.9% of the overall CESP target.
	This indicates that while good progress has been made there is still a significant challenge for obligated companies this year to meet the targets in time. Ofgem will be publishing a further update on progress in May this year as part of their annual CESP progress report to the Secretary of State.
	While it is the legal responsibility of the obligated companies to meet their targets under the scheme, DECC has always been willing to assist in facilitating delivery where reasonable to help ensure a cost-effective scheme. I met with representatives of the CESP obligated energy supply companies to discuss progress in meeting the CESP obligations on 1 February 2012. Following this meeting a number of actions are being pursued by DECC to assist delivery, including:
	supporting the Energy Retail Association in holding a forthcoming workshop with energy companies, charities, local authorities and others looking to address key challenges and communicate best practice;
	writing out to all local authority chief executives through established DCLG channels with a call to engage with CESP;
	engaging local authorities more directly through meetings which can help identify and broker viable partnerships with energy companies; and
	publishing new HECA guidance shortly—which will encourage local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of their residential housing.

Community Energy Savings Programme

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the (a) Community Energy Savings Programme and (b) Carbon Energy Reduction Target funding has been spent in (i) off gas grid and (ii) mains gas areas to date.

Gregory Barker: Under the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP) and the Carbon Energy Reduction Target (CERT) obligated companies are required to meet carbon reduction targets. The companies are not required to report on the amount they invest to meet their targets or, usually, on whether treated properties are connected to the gas grid; this information is therefore unavailable.
	However, the CERT evaluation report indicated that proportionally few people in off gas grid homes had benefited from the scheme. There have also been only a small number of CESP schemes in rural areas (which are more likely to be off the gas grid), but some off gas grid properties in urban areas have benefited under the scheme.
	More generally the Government seek to encourage energy companies to deliver their schemes equitably, and work to help ensure all local authorities are informed of the opportunities available.
	Detailed information on CERT delivery, including down to parliamentary constituency level, is available on the website of the Energy Saving Trust:
	http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Professional-resources/Existing-Housing/Homes-Energy-Efficiency-Database/CERT-reports-from-HEED

Energy

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with industry on minimum planning and delivery times for community Energy Saving Programme schemes; and if his Department will publish the outcome of any such discussions.

Gregory Barker: Companies with obligations under the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) have until 31 December 2012 to meet their targets under the scheme. Subject to the terms of the CESP legislation how companies plan to meet these targets and to what timetable is a commercial matter for them.
	While it is the legal responsibility of the obligated companies to meet their targets under the scheme, DECC has always been willing to assist in facilitating delivery where reasonable to help ensure a cost-effective scheme. I last met with representatives of the CESP obligated energy supply companies to discuss progress in meeting the CESP obligations on 1 February 2012. Following this meeting a number of actions are being pursued by DECC to assist delivery, including:
	supporting the Energy Retail Association in holding a forthcoming workshop with energy companies, charities, local authorities and others looking to address key challenges and communicate best practice;
	writing out to all local authority chief executives through established DCLG channels with a call to engage with CESP;
	engaging local authorities more directly through meetings which can help identify and broker viable partnerships with energy companies; and
	publishing new HECA guidance shortly—which will encourage local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of their residential housing.

Energy

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to support a national roll-out of voltage optimisation devices to (a) commercial buildings and (b) residential buildings.

Gregory Barker: Energy efficiency is often the most cost-effective way of cutting emissions and saving consumers money, and is a priority for this Government. Different energy efficiency measures will be appropriate for different properties.
	My officials will shortly be holding a meeting with representatives from a number of companies supplying voltage optimisation devices. This will be an opportunity to explore more fully the potential for this technology, including the sectors and buildings where it can create the greatest energy saving benefits. I look forward to considering the outputs of this meeting.

Environment Protection

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the funding announced in the comprehensive spending review to support low-carbon technologies has been allocated.

Charles Hendry: In the spending review last year we announced the allocation of over £200 million of direct capital funding to support low-carbon technologies. Of this funding to date up to £180 million has been allocated to specific schemes. As a proportion this is 90%.

Environment Protection

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which projects have been allocated funding from the funding announced in the comprehensive spending review to support low-carbon technologies; and how much funding has been allocated to each such project.

Charles Hendry: In the spending review last year we announced the allocation of over £200 million of direct Capital funding to support low-carbon technologies. Of this funding to date up to £180 million has been allocated to specific schemes. These are:
	1. Developing manufacturing infrastructure at port sites—up to £60 million
	2. Marine energy array demonstration projects—£20 million
	3. Offshore wind accelerator project (to innovate in key areas)—up to £15 million
	4. Offshore wind innovative components—up to £15 million
	5. Buildings Energy Efficiency Projects—up to £35 million
	6. Carbon Capture and Storage costs reduction innovation—up to £20 million
	7. Bio Energy Innovation—up to £15 million

Fuel Poverty

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of people in fuel poverty in (a) Wrexham, (b) Wales and (c) the UK in the last year.

Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty among the countries of the UK is measured by each devolved Government, and is measured at a household rather than individual level. In 2009, the latest year for which data is available, 5.40 million households in the UK were in fuel poverty. Latest figures for 2010 for the UK and England will be published on 17 May.
	For Wales, the last available data shows that in 2008, approximately 332,000 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty. Projections for 2009 and 2010 estimate 368,000 and 332,000 fuel poor households respectively.
	Data is not produced for lower geographical areas in Wales.

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has undertaken on consumer attitudes to the Green Deal in the last year.

Gregory Barker: Details of research undertaken on consumer attitudes to the Green Deal in the last year are listed in the following table (all relevant research commissioned between January 2011 and April 2012 has been included):
	
		
			 Date started Contracted research agency Methodology Purpose of the research 
			 January 2011 GfK-NOP A survey of a representative sample of 2,023 participants across Great Britain. The sample covered 1,684 owner-occupiers and 339 tenants in private rented properties. To understand the response to the Green Deal concept from domestic householders. 
			   — To understand any key motivators or barriers and concerns or issues from a consumer perspective. 
			     
			 February 2011 IPSOS MORI Qualitative research with home owners (including vulnerable groups) and SMEs: 18 focus groups and 32 in-depth interviews. To explore consumer response to the Green Deal, including specific features of assessment, installation, accreditation, finance, advice and triggers. 
			     
			 February 2011 Quadrangle Qualitative research with domestic and non-domestic tenants and landlords: 12 focus groups and 16 in-depth interviews. To identify how best to engage the private rented sector in the Green Deal and drive demand on a voluntary basis. 
			     
			 August 2011 Optimisa 80 qualitative interviews with householders across Great Britain To establish how to communicate the core concepts of the Green Deal so as to minimise any potential confusion, with a particular focus on the Green Deal occupancy assessment(1). 
			   Mock occupancy assessments with 12 households. — 
			     
			 August 2011 BMG A representative telephone interview survey of 2,802 businesses, charities, and voluntary sector organisations in Great Britain (excluding only businesses without employees and/or which operated from domestic premises). To understand response to the Green Deal by businesses. 
			   Qualitative interviews with 30 businesses and 17 landlords. To identify motivations and barriers to energy efficiency and the Green Deal in businesses and sub sectors. 
			     
			 November 2011 GfK-NOP An omnibus survey with a representative sample of 1,946 participants across . Great Britain. The sample covered 1,077 owner-occupiers and 374 tenants in private rented properties. This was a follow up piece of research to the January 2011 survey. It was specifically designed to understand how offering varying levels of subsidy impacts people's likelihood of taking up a Green Deal package. 
			     
			 February 2012(2) GfK-NOP Survey of a representative sample of 2,050 householders. To understand what form and level of incentive is most effective in driving demand for the Green Deal. 
			   Segmentation based on above survey data and Target Group Index (TGI) data. To indicate how potential take-up of Green Deal varies by segment to understand the motivations and barriers for different groups. 
			 (1 )The occupancy assessment is one of the two mandated documents (the other being the energy performance certificate (EPC) that make up the Green Deal Advice Report (GDAR) and will be given to people who have a Green Deal assessment. (2) Currently still under way 
		
	
	The results of some of research above has already been published on the DECC website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/green_deal/green_deal.aspx
	A second tranche of research will be published alongside the DECC response to the Green Deal consultation.

Green Deal Scheme

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what definition of rural was adopted in his Department's evaluation of the Carbon Energy Reduction Target (CERT) that led to the conclusion on page 133 of his Consultation document on the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation that rural areas in Great Britain had received a proportionate rate of delivery under CERT.

Gregory Barker: The definition of rurality adopted for the evaluation of the Carbon Energy Reduction Target was the standard DEFRA/ONS Rural Definition for England and Wales(1), and the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification for Scotland. The Rural/Urban Definition was used in analysis of CERT delivery in England and Wales. The Scottish Urban Rural Classification(2) was used in analysis of CERT delivery in Scotland. The Rural/Urban Local Authority Classification and Scottish Urban Rural Classification were used in survey and case study research conducted as part of the CERT evaluation.
	(1) DEFRA/ONS Rural Definition:
	http://archive.defra.gov.uk/evidence/statistics/rural/documents/rural-defn/Rural_Urban_Introductory_Guide.pdf
	(2) Scottish Urban Rural classification for Scotland:
	http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/08/20WUR

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress he has made of the development of national occupational standards for Green Deal advisers; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: DECC commissioned Asset Skills, one of the Sector Skills Councils to develop a suite of National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Green Deal Advisors which build on the existing suite of Energy Assessor NOS arid qualifications. These have now been approved by the UK NOS Panel and can be found on the Asset Skills website:
	http://www.assetskills.org/PropertyAndPlanning/PropertyNOS.aspx

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects learning providers to begin to offer training that leads to a Green Deal adviser qualification.

Gregory Barker: We expect training providers to begin to offer training across Great Britain from the beginning of June. The Government are also providing £l million in funding to be invested in training up to 1,000 Green Deal Advisors in readiness for the launch of the Green Deal in the autumn. DECC has appointed Asset Skills, one of the Sector Skills Councils to lead the project to develop this and details will be announced shortly.

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how long he expects training leading to a Green Deal adviser qualification to take.

Gregory Barker: Training times will vary depending on the sector in question and the existing skills possessed. For those already trained and qualified as energy assessors capable of producing an EPC we would expect training times to be substantially shorter.
	Although the market is likely to offer a range of learning approaches, discussions with the sector suggest that existing domestic energy assessors could require up to 16 days additional training to become a Green Deal Advisor.

Green Deal Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what he expects the likely cost to be to individuals undertaking training leading to a Green Deal assessor qualification.

Gregory Barker: Training costs will vary depending, on the sector in question, the existing skills possessed by the candidate and the learning providers in question. For example, those already trained and qualified as energy assessors could expect to see the cost of training. reduced. Early discussions with the sector suggest that an existing domestic energy assessor could expect a cost of training around £1,600.
	I recently announced £1 million for the training of up to 1,000 advisors in readiness for the rollout of the Green Deal. DECC has appointed Asset Skills, one of the Sector Skills Councils to lead the project to develop this and details will be announced shortly.

Official Visits

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the date and location was of each official visit by a Minister in his Department since May 2010.

Gregory Barker: Ministerial visits are not centrally recorded. Gathering of this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many solar PV installations qualifying for the feed-in-tariff there were between (a) 3 March 2012 and (b) 1 April 2012.

Gregory Barker: Data from the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) database should be seen as an early indicator of activity and there is no guarantee that all microgenerators with MCS installations will be eligible for, or decide to apply for FiTs. The MCS database covers wind and PV installations up to 50 kW and microCHP eligible for FiTs (up to 2 kW).
	As at 16 April 2012, there were 18,942 PV installations up to 50 kW registered on the MCS database between 3 March 2012 and 1 April 2012.
	Registration on the CFR represents the final stage in the FiTs registration process. There will be installations eligible for FiT that have been installed but have not yet been registered onto CFR.
	As of 16 April 2012, the Ofgem central feed-in tariff register (CFR) shows 34,022 solar PV installations were accredited for feed-in tariffs (FiTs) between 3 March 2012 and 1 April 2012. Some of these installations will have been installed before 3 March 2012.

Renewables Obligation

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the advanced conversion technology industry of the Renewables Obligation banding review; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: The Government's policy aim is to bring on the deployment of advanced conversion technologies as they have the potential to produce syngas for efficient power and heat generation as well as liquid biofuels for transport. For the Renewables Obligation banding review consultation there was limited cost evidence on which to base proposed levels of support. During the consultation process the Government engaged closely with industry to understand the impact of the proposals and to gather further cost evidence on the level of support required. The Government response to the banding review consultation is due to be published in spring 2012.

Sarah Southern

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had with (i) Sarah Southern and (ii) Peter Cruddas since 12 May 2010.

Gregory Barker: There have been no meetings between any of the Department's Ministers, special advisers or the Permanent Secretary and Sarah Southern or Peter Cruddas in relation to DECC business since 12 May 2010.
	Details of meetings DECC Ministers and the Permanent Secretary have held with external organisations are published quarterly on the Department's website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/registers.aspx
	Quarterly details of meetings held since October 2011 will be published in due course.
	It would incur disproportionate cost to scrutinise details of meetings held at official level since 12 May 2010.

Solar Power

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what support he plans to provide to maximise the deployment of solar PV.

Gregory Barker: The coalition is committed to promoting decentralised energy and the take-up of small-scale low carbon technologies by the public and by communities. The feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme has already surpassed expectations for deployment of these technologies including solar PV. When the FITs scheme was originally set up, initial projections indicated we would reach deployment delivering 140 MW of electricity by April 2012. However, as at the end of March 2012, actual take-up stood at 1150 MW.
	We will shortly be setting out our plans for future support for solar PV, in our response to Phase 2A of the consultation on the comprehensive review of FITs. We want to put the industry onto a stable footing, so that in future subsidies come down as the costs of solar PV fall. Our new proposed support mechanism will put the scheme on a predictable, certain and sustainable footing for consumers, and for the businesses delivering these exciting renewable technologies, while minimising the cost to consumers through energy bills.

Solar Power

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what measures will be introduced to ensure that feed-in tariffs will be adjusted to reflect rising costs as well as falling costs of solar PV modules and installation to ensure stable growth for the industry.

Gregory Barker: Over the period 9 February to 3 April 2012, as part of the comprehensive review of the Feed-in Tariffs scheme, the Government consulted on proposals for a tariff-setting mechanism for solar photovoltaic installations which is designed to respond to changes in the market and provide stability for the industry. We are currently analysing the responses, which will be taken into account as part of final decision-making on the policy, and will publish the outcome of the consultation in May.

Solar Power

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the consultation on Comprehensive Review Phase 2A: solar photovoltaic cost control, paragraph 24, when his Department plans to publish expected levels of deployment.

Gregory Barker: The draft impact assessment accompanying the consultation on Phase 2A of the comprehensive review of the feed-in tariffs scheme included projections for expected levels of solar PV deployment under different scenarios for future PV installation costs and proposed tariffs. This is available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/media/viewfile.ashx?filetype=4&filepath=Consultations/fits-review/4320-feedin-tariffs-review-phase-2a-draft-impact-asses.pdf
	These deployment projections will be updated in the final impact assessment, which will be published alongside the Government response to the consultation. The Department expects to publish its response to the consultation within the next few weeks.

Tidal Power

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the power which could be generated by marine energy in each region of the UK.

Gregory Barker: In 2007 the Government commissioned the further development of the UK Marine Renewables Energy Atlas. The Atlas represents the most detailed regional description of potential marine energy resources in UK waters ever completed to date at a national scale. The Atlas is publicly available at:
	http://www.renewables-atlas.info/
	DECC also takes a strategic view on the environmental impacts of deploying wave and tidal energy technologies. The Department recently published its Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA 2) which considered Wave and Tidal Energy Technologies for England and Wales and concluded that there are no overriding environmental considerations to prevent the leasing of wave and tidal energy devices provided appropriate measures are implemented that prevent, reduce and offset significant adverse impacts on the environment and other users of the sea.

Tidal Power

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has for the future funding of the Marine Energy Array Demonstrator Scheme.

Gregory Barker: The coalition are committed to driving development of the UK marine energy sector. The total budget for the MEAD scheme is £20 million. We expect to award around £10 million each to two projects. The provisional budget spend profile is:
	FY 2013-14—£13 million;
	FY 2014-15—£7 million.

Warm Front Scheme

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2012, Official Report, column 751W, on the Warm Front scheme, how many applications for a Warm Front grant were (a) accepted and (b) rejected in the whole of 2011-12.

Gregory Barker: In 2011-12, 43,585 applications were accepted for a Warm Front grant with a further 28,789 applications that did not qualify for assistance.
	In addition, a further 8,297 applications were received in 2011-12 that are awaiting a survey. Of these outstanding surveys a proportion will be accepted for Warm Front assistance with a further number rejected as not qualifying for assistance.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance and training his Department has offered to the Government of Afghanistan on domestic violence; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We provide funding to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission which works to address issues of domestic violence through education, casework and representation, as well as national advocacy.
	We also support training for the Afghan National Police which covers domestic violence, gender integration and the prevention of violence against women.

Afghanistan

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance and training his Department has offered to the Government of Afghanistan on the detention of women in prison; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK is working with the Government of Afghanistan and international partners to ensure that Afghanistan has a safe and secure prison system. It is essential that the human rights of all those detained, including women, are respected.
	Guidance and training on the treatment of those detained in the Afghan prison system is a core part of the mentoring that the UK provides, including through the work of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province to build capacity at the provincial level.

Afghanistan

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of funding allocated by his Department to programmes to develop the prison sector in Afghanistan have been used to construct women's prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Since 2009, the UK has spent in the region of £3.7 million on projects to support the prison sector in Helmand Province. In addition, the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province is working with the Afghan prison authorities in Helmand Province to construct a dedicated female detention facility in Lashkar Gah. The project is still at the planning stage and the costs will be in the region of £500,000. Construction will commence later this year and should be completed in 2013.

Afghanistan

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Afghanistan on the imprisonment of women; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: I have not held any recent discussions on the imprisonment of women in Afghanistan with my Afghan interlocutors. However my officials in Kabul and the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province are working closely with the Government of Afghanistan to reform the prison sector. An important element of UK support to the Afghan prisons sector is the promotion of high standards of treatment of all detained individuals in line with international standards, including the treatment of women. In addition to monitoring visits, mentoring and training of Afghan prison personnel in Helmand and Kabul, the UK is funding the construction of a female detention facility in Helmand Province which is due for completion in 2013.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights situation for trade unionists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Henry Bellingham: According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) there are 420 officially recognised trade unions active in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC has ratified a number of ILO conventions protecting the rights of trade unions. However, we are aware that members of civil society in the DRC, including trade unionists, suffer abuses of their human rights, including threats to their freedom of expression. Britain provides funding to help strengthen civil society, for example to support capacity building of human rights defenders. British officials will continue to raise our concerns about reported repression of trade unionists with the DRC Ministry of Justice. We will also continue to press the DRC Government to meet its responsibility to protect the right to freedom of expression for civil society.

India

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the delivery of justice for victims of communal violence in (a) Gujarat state, India in 2002 and (b) Orissa state, India in 2008.

Jeremy Browne: It is important to secure justice in these cases for all the victims. There has been some recent progress. In Gujarat, convictions have been made, most recently on 12 April, when 23 people were sentenced. A number of those responsible for the violence in Orissa in 2008 have also been brought to justice. However, many cases remain pending and we support the Indian authorities' efforts to make further progress. We continue to follow developments in both Gujarat and Orissa closely and to work with the Government of India on the cases of British nationals killed in the violence.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the Libyan authorities send Saif al-Islam to the International Criminal Court for trial.

Alistair Burt: This is an independent legal process on which it would be inappropriate at this stage for us to comment in detail. However, we note that Libya's Transitional Government are continuing to engage with the International Criminal Court (ICC) process regarding jurisdiction over the prosecution of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. On 4 April, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber rejected the Libyan Government's request of 22 March 2012 for a postponement of the ICC's surrender request for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber and Appeals Chamber are now considering Libyan appeals lodged on 10 April. We are urging the Libyan authorities to continue to cooperate with the ICC.
	It is important that Saif’s detention is in accordance with international law, that he is held by a legitimate authority, has access to a legal adviser, and that any potential criminal trial held in Libya meets international standards.

Mali

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the (a) security and (b) humanitarian situation in Mali.

Henry Bellingham: Britain supports the progress which has been made towards returning Mali to constitutional, civilian rule following the forcible seizure of power on 21 March. We welcome the inauguration of interim President Dioncounda Traore on 12 April and continue to support ECOWAS-led efforts to return Mali to full democracy, including the holding of elections. We remain deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the north of the country following the capture of three cities by Tuareg insurgents, some with reported connections to Al-Qa'ida.
	Reports suggest that nearly 235,000 men, women and children have been uprooted by the current crisis in Mali. This on-going conflict is further exacerbating the already worsening food and nutrition crisis that is currently affecting some 16 million people across the Sahel. Britain is supporting, where local conditions allow, the work of the UN and International NGOs in Mali to provide humanitarian assistance for an approximate 68,000 individuals. We continue to monitor the situation and are in close contact with agencies working on the ground.

Private Military and Security Companies

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress his Department has made with Aerospace, Defence and Security in developing and implementing UK national standards for private military and security companies.

Henry Bellingham: Aerospace, Defence and Security (ADS) set up a special interest group, the Security in Complex Environments Group (SCEG) to work with the Government in developing and implementing UK national standards. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office hosted the SCEG's inaugural conference on 5 March at Lancaster House which was attended by over 160 representatives of UK-based private security companies, and which discussed national and international regulatory developments. My noble Friend, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, and the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), made important speeches at the conference, setting out the Government's work with ADS on the regulatory agenda.
	The SCEG announced at the conference that they intend to have UK national standards for both land and maritime based private security companies (PSCs) in place by the end of 2012. SCEG will shortly submit to Ministers specific proposals for this.
	Once British national standards are agreed, we intend to submit them to the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICOC) for certification as meeting the ICOC's principles and requirements.

Rendition

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which documents relating to (a) the landing and (b) the refuelling of plane N313P on Diego Garcia on 9 March 2004 held by (i) the UK authorities and (ii) the British Indian Ocean Territory authorities have been searched; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: I will write to my right hon. Friend once our searches are completed.

Somalia

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the recent International Conference on Somalia, what objectives and terms of reference have been set for the new task force group; and what steps he plans to take to ensure that the work of the task force does not unintentionally increase the risk to ships and seafarers.

Henry Bellingham: The creation of a piracy ransoms task force was announced by the Prime Minister at the London Conference on Somalia, with the aim of establishing a multi-national forum in which the issue of piracy ransom payments could be addressed.
	We are currently in the process of negotiating the precise terms of reference and objectives with the international partners who are interested in contributing to the task force.
	This Government will continue to seek actively the views of the maritime industry and seafarers' groups throughout these discussions.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Droughts

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance she is planning to provide to farmers who operate in areas of drought.

Richard Benyon: Farmers are represented at water summit meetings and within the National Drought Group, which has been established to co-ordinate management of the drought. DEFRA will continue to work closely with farmers and with water companies to support them in maintaining domestic production and to facilitate a flexible, pragmatic approach in order to adapt to and mitigate, as far as possible, the consequences of reduced water availability.
	Specific key actions to help farmers include:
	telling farmers in areas of restrictions as soon as water is available to abstract;
	keeping farmers aware of prospects for spray irrigation in 2012 and agreeing how they can best manage the reduced amount of water available to avoid or delay irrigation bans;
	encouraging and assisting farmers to set up water abstractor groups to share water and knowledge; and
	giving farmers advice on farm water efficiency and conservation.
	The Environment Agency and the National Farmers Union are also working with water companies to ensure there are contingency plans in place to prepare for increased risks to supplies of drinking water for livestock, particularly housed pigs and poultry.

Animal Welfare

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of animals slaughtered by the halal process in the latest period for which figures are available.

James Paice: Information on the number of animals slaughtered by the halal process was collected by the Meat Hygiene Service and reported on in the Meat Hygiene Service, Animal Welfare Review 2003. The Food Standards Agency repeated the welfare survey in 2011 and the data collected is currently being collated with a view to publication later in the year. Information on halal slaughter has also been collected by the EU Dialrel project and the results can be found at:
	http://www.dialrel.eu/dialrel-results

Droughts

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects of drought conditions on her Department's budget and expenditure in 2012.

Richard Benyon: To date, the response to the drought in 2012 has not had an effect on DEFRA's budget and expenditure and is being managed within existing resources. The situation is being carefully monitored and calls on DEFRA's budget and expenditure will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Droughts

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to the economy of drought conditions in early 2012.

Richard Benyon: The current estimate of the cost to the economy of drought conditions in early 2012 is considered to be low. Work by the National Drought Group is under way and the Group has been tasked with developing the evidence base and anticipating future costs to the economy.
	The drought in the UK is unlikely to affect food prices or supply for items such as fruit, vegetables, sugar and grain as the UK is a trading nation and imports a considerable amount of these food products. However, should the drought be more widespread across Europe and Russia, it is likely to lead to an impact on prices. The water industry is working with farmers and growers to communicate changes in water levels and provide a flexible approach to ease the impact of drought on crops.

Electricity Generation

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of water levels in water courses abstracted by electricity generation plants.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency has an extensive network of sites that monitor water levels and flows across England and Wales. It records data at regular frequencies, from 15 minutes for certain rivers to monthly for groundwater. These data are used to support the Environment Agency's duties and responsibilities under the water framework directive and to inform water resources and flood catchment management work. The Environment Agency uses the data to warn abstractors, such as power stations, about the risks of drought.
	The Environment Agency is working with the power sector at national and local levels to gauge the impact drought is having on the sector and individual sites, and to encourage the sector to establish contingency plans should there be a severe drought this summer.

Electricity Generation

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which electricity generation plants directly abstract water from the natural environment for cooling purposes.

Richard Benyon: There are 58 power stations in England and Wales that directly abstract water from the environment for the different cooling purposes used in electricity generation. They are as follows:
	Aberthaw
	Barking
	Bristol
	Carrington Power Station
	Castleford
	Connah's Quay
	Corby
	Cottam
	Damhead Creek
	Deeside
	Derwent
	Didcot
	Drakelow
	Drax
	Dungeness
	Eggborough
	Fawley
	Ferry Bridge C
	Fiddlers Ferry
	Glandford Brigg
	Grain
	Great Yarmouth
	Greenwich generating station
	Hartlepool
	Heysham 1 and 2
	High Marnham
	Hinkley B
	Ironbridge
	Keadby
	Kemsley Combined Heat and Power Plant
	Killingholme Combined Heat and Power Plant
	Killingholme Combined Cycle Gas Turbine
	Kingsnorth
	Little Barford
	Littlebrook
	Marchwood
	Medway
	Oldbury
	Pembroke
	Ratcliffe-on-Soar
	Roosecote
	Rugeley
	Rye House
	Saltend
	Sandbach Power Station
	Sappi Blackburn Paper Mill and Combined Heat and Power installation
	Sizewell B
	Slough Combined Heat and Power
	South Humber Bank
	Shoreham
	Spalding
	Staythorpe C
	Teesside
	Thornhill
	Tilbury
	West Burton
	Willington
	Wylfa.

Farms: Taxation

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of farms will be affected by the change to the corporate tax rate in the 2012 Budget; and what assessment she has made of the likely effect of this change on the incorporation of farms.

David Gauke: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	The corporation tax rate cut in the 2012 Budget will benefit incorporated farms with profits in excess of £300,000. It is not possible to provide figures for the proportion of farms benefiting from the reduction.
	The Government are committed to improving the UK's competitiveness and supporting investment and growth. The reduction in the main rate of corporation tax announced at the Budget will help achieve this.

Fisheries

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she can take under the UN Fish Stock Agreement to protect the capture of juvenile illex squid prior to them reaching maturity in the territorial waters off the Falkland Islands.

Jeremy Browne: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	The illex squid stock, which reaches maturity within the Falkland Islands territorial waters, occurs across a wide area of the south Atlantic including the Argentine exclusive economic zone and the high seas. The South Atlantic Fisheries Commission (SAFC) between the UK and Argentina provided for co-operation in the management of illex and other shared fish stocks. Argentine withdrawal from SAFC. and its extension of the fishing season for illex in Argentine waters, has endangered the long-term sustainable management of the stock, and this is in contravention of article 63 of the UN convention on the law of the sea. We have made several specific proposals to Argentina seeking to renew co-operation under the SAFC and continue to believe that fisheries offers an important opportunity for bilateral and wider co-operation in the south Atlantic.

Fisheries

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcomes were of the discussions at the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 19 March 2012.

Richard Benyon: At the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 19 March 2012, EU Fisheries Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on the External Dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and discussed how to address the issue of fish discards. These are expected to inform future negotiations on the reform of the CFP.
	As UK Fisheries Minister I am continuing to press for major reform of the CFP, including tackling the wasteful practice of discarding of dead and dying fish, and improving the way the CFP operates in relation to fisheries outside EU waters, therefore ensuring the same principles of sustainable use are applied inside and outside EU waters.

Fishery Agreements

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions have taken place between the European Commission and Mauritania on the Future Fisheries Partnership agreement.

Richard Benyon: The first round of negotiations with Mauritania to set up a new fisheries partnership agreement was held from 13-16 June 2011. Since then there have been a further four rounds of negotiations with the last one taking place between 11-15 December 2011. Due to disagreements between the two sides the negotiations stalled, and informal discussions are now taking place between the two sides in order to speed up the process and secure a new agreement. No date has been set for the next round of negotiations.

Peat

Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of B&Q on the phasing out of peat use by 2020.

Richard Benyon: Ministers and officials meet representatives from B&Q as well as a wide range of other interested parties on an ongoing basis to discuss peat and other issues.

Public Bodies

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers the Major Infrastructure and Environment Unit will have to hold relevant public bodies to account.

Richard Benyon: The Major Infrastructure and Environment Unit will have no formal powers to hold relevant public bodies to account. The Unit will not give direction or intervene in the advisory or decision making roles of statutory advisers or competent authorities.
	The Unit will though work with relevant public bodies to support collaboration with developers of major infrastructure projects, oversee a new process for agreeing evidence and provide greater clarity to developers on key requirements from the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives. The aim is that this will maintain protection of environmentally significant sites and species and reduce the likelihood of delays arising to infrastructure projects from meeting obligations under the directives.

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on a new implementation agreement under the UN convention on the law of the sea for the conservation of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction including marine protected areas.

Richard Benyon: The Government recognise that threats to high seas biodiversity are increasing and the current governance arrangements for biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction need improving. This is why the Government's Natural Environment White Paper set out a commitment to work towards delivering a new global mechanism to regulate the conservation of marine biodiversity in the high seas, including the designation of high seas marine protected areas (MPA).
	Working in co-operation with other nations we secured consent at the 66th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011 for a resolution that agreed a process should be initiated that could lead to a new agreement to deal with MPA and environmental impact assessments, coupled with further discussion on an access and benefit sharing regime for marine genetic resources.
	This process will now be taken forward at the UN working group on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, being held from 7 to 11 May 2012, where representatives from the Government will continue to press for the need for a new implementing agreement.

Water Supply

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has (a) quantified and (b) commissioned any research on the potential waste saving from the introduction of retail water competition in England.

Richard Benyon: The Government have not quantified waste savings that may arise as a result of reforming retail competition in water services. However, the impact assessments published in December 2011 alongside the Water White Paper, “Water for Life”, made a number of assumptions around the benefits that may be delivered by our reforms.
	Reforming the current water supply licensing regime by removing barriers to effective competition should lead to the development of new services that will help non-household customers become more water efficient (e.g. by reducing unnecessary water use and waste). Extending the regime to cover sewerage services will also incentivise an increase in the use of recycled water which could reduce the reliance on potable water for some non-household customers.
	Pressure at the retail level and from alternative suppliers in a reformed upstream water supply market will also incentivise incumbent water companies to look at ways of keeping wholesale costs down. This could, for example, include looking at new and innovative ways of reducing waste through network leakage.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to ensure that its programmes take account of the special interests and vulnerabilities of children.

Stephen O'Brien: All Department for International Development (DFID) supported programmes are required to have a social appraisal carried out by professionally qualified staff. This helps ensure that vulnerable groups of people, including children, are identified at the outset and that the design of the programme benefits, or at least does not harm vulnerable people.
	DFID also supports organisations such as UNICEF and Save the Children who work with vulnerable children. A recent report by UNICEF and Save the Children shows that more than 4 million fewer children under five are dying each year, than in 1990:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/News/Latest-news/2012/Report-Child-deaths-drop-by-4-million-/

Developing Countries

Anna Soubry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle high food prices in developing countries and ensure food security.

Stephen O'Brien: The Government recognise that high and volatile food prices have a damaging impact on food security, particularly on the poorest households in developing countries. The Department for International Development (DFID) supports substantial food security and agriculture programmes in over 20 countries, covering a wide range of interventions including support for productive safety nets, developing agricultural input markets, and supporting agricultural research to raise productivity. For example, in Ethiopia, DFID support is helping 1.2 million people escape long-term dependency on food aid by promoting cash for work, which is giving the poorest an income to invest in their farms, increase household food consumption and send their children to school.
	Along with other governments and organisations, DFID is supporting the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) initiative—the most promising mechanism for accelerating action to improve nutrition in the first 1000 days of a child's life. DFID has committed to double our reach through nutrition interventions from 10 million to 20 million children under five years of age by 2015. And at the global level, DFID is promoting a global market information system initiated by the G20, which will improve global data on public and private stocks and thereby reduce the likelihood of future food price spikes.

Developing Countries: Females

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what framework his Department is using to measure progress towards the 2015 targets set out in its document Choices for Women.

Andrew Mitchell: The initial monitoring and evaluation framework for the UK Government's Framework for Results: ‘Choices for women: Planned pregnancies, safe births and healthy newborns’ can be found on the Department for International Development's website at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk/rmnh
	(see publications section).

Sahel

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has (a) spent and (b) allocated for future spend, in response to the food crisis in the Sahel region of Africa (i) in bilateral aid, broken down by country and (ii) via multilateral organisations, broken down by organisation.

Andrew Mitchell: UK aid will help treat over 400,000 people across the Sahel in 2012. This will include 155,000 children and women benefitting from improved nutrition, of which over 87,000 children under five will be able to be treated for severe acute malnutrition; 153,000 people who will receive food; and a further 104,000 men, women and children, who will benefit from community livelihoods support such as animal feed and animal vaccinations and cash and or in-kind transfers.
	In addition to our direct support, British aid is also reaching those in need through our contributions to multilateral funds. The United Nation's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)—to which Britain is the leading contributor—has released £37 million; and the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO)—to which Britain is a significant contributor—has provided £96 million.
	The Government have allocated £10 million as the UK's contribution to fight the food crisis in the Sahel region. This is being distributed through the following organisations, each of which has substantial expertise and experience in this area:
	
		
			 Agency Amount (£) 
			 Action Against Hunger 1,500,000 
			 International Committee of the Red Cross 1,000,000 
			 Oxfam 1,000,000 
			 Save the Children 1,000,000 
			 UNICEF 2,500,000 
			 World Food Programme 3,000,000 
			 Total 10,000,000 
		
	
	UK assistance has been allocated to the affected countries according to their needs, as follows:
	
		
			 Country Amount (£) 
			 Niger 5,745,246 
			 Chad 953,213 
			 Mali 1,735,210 
			 Mauritania 314,865 
			 Burkina Faso 251,466 
			 Sahel region 1,000,000 
			 Total 10,000,000 
		
	
	A proportion of UK humanitarian funding is held in a reserve set aside for Africa, which can be used for emergencies in, but not limited to, the Sahel region.

JUSTICE

Confiscation Orders

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many confiscation orders the UK has transmitted to another EU member state under the 2006 Council Framework Decision on the application of the principle of mutual recognitions to confiscation orders in each year since it came into operation; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 16 April 2012
	I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Home Department.
	The UK has not implemented this Framework Decision.

Corston Review

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the Corston report.

Crispin Blunt: The previous Government broadly accepted 40 out of the 43 recommendations in the Corston report, which called for a radical change in the way women are treated throughout the criminal justice system. There have been real improvements over the past five years, including significant investment in women's community services to address the underlying causes of women's offending such as drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues and often long histories of abuse. The National Offender Management Service will provide £3.5 million funding for 30 services in 2012-13.
	Other areas of progress include embedding Gender Specific Standards for women in all areas of prison regimes and the delivery of awareness training for more than 2,000 staff working in prisons and the community focusing on key gender issues such as self-harm, relationships and abuse, and support for sex workers. Separately, reduction in demand enabled us to close HMP Morton Hall as a women's prison last year, meeting our plan to reduce the number of places in the women's estate by 400.
	We continue to work across Government to address the complex needs of female offenders and those at risk of offending.

Crime: Victims

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will bring forward proposals to create a statutory basis for the new Victims' Code;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to ensure that a new Victims' Code is adequately monitored and enforced.

Crispin Blunt: In our consultation document ‘Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses’, published on 30 January, we set out far reaching proposals for improving services and support for victims and witnesses. A key proposal is that there should be a new, clearer. Victims' Code and we have sought views on a set of principles on which we think the new code should be based.
	The consultation closed on 22 April and we plan to publish the Government's response to the consultation in the summer.
	There is already a statutory basis for the Victims' Code. As we begin to draft the new code we will consider how best to monitor and enforce it. There will be a further consultation on the code before we lay it before Parliament.

Foreign Companies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the access to redress in the UK by people overseas for the actions of UK companies.

Jonathan Djanogly: During the passage of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill through Parliament, Ministry of Justice Ministers and officials have held many meetings with interested stakeholders and NGOs that support these cases. During our discussions with NGOs we have sought further evidence why these cases could not be brought in the future, which the Government have considered carefully. However, we have not been persuaded that such cases cannot continue to be brought when our changes to no win no fee conditional fee agreements (CFAs) are implemented.
	It remains the Government's view that it will still be possible to bring claims against UK multinational companies once our reforms are implemented. CFAs will continue, although any success fee will no longer be recoverable from the losing party.

Legal Profession: Pay

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish a list of the highest earning barristers from legal aid.

Jonathan Djanogly: I expect to disclose the information later this summer.

Prison Sentences: Females

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women were serving short sentences in prison in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The population of female prisoners serving short sentences (sentences of less than 12 months) in prison establishments in England and Wales as at 31 December 2011 was 625.
	The Department publishes data on the prison population (including those serving short sentences) in the “Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin” (Table 1.1c refers) and is available via this link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/oms-quarterly
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prison Service

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Prison Service staff have been dismissed in the last 12 months; and how many have resigned or retired through ill health where a disciplinary hearing had been ongoing prior to their departure.

Crispin Blunt: In the 12 months from 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012 465 staff were dismissed from public sector prisons. These include dismissals for reasons of conduct, as well as for medical inefficiency, poor attendance and poor performance.
	The leaving reason "resigned under investigation" was introduced for public sector prisons in August 2011 but it is not possible to provide 12 months of data. Between 20 August 2011 and 31 January 2012 there have been 14 staff who resigned under investigation. Details of staff retiring through ill health during an investigation are not recorded.
	In contracted prisons there have been 97 staff dismissed in the past year and five resignations or retirements through ill health where a disciplinary hearing had been ongoing prior to the departure.

Prisoners: Voting Rights

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals regarding voting rights for prisoners.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister.
	The Government are currently awaiting the final judgment of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in an Italian prisoner voting rights case known as Scoppola (No. 3), and will consider the judgment and the wider legal context before setting out the next steps on prisoner voting.

Prisons: Self-Harm

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of cases of self-harm in women's prisons.

Crispin Blunt: NOMS has commissioned Oxford university to undertake research that will support our understanding of self-harm generally in prison. The study will look at some 140,000 recorded incidents of self-harm between 2004 and 2009. Early findings have been received and we await the final report.
	Most self-harm is not directly life threatening, although clearly a sign of distress. It can also be extremely difficult for those who have to deal with it. As an individual prisoner-focused care planning system for those at risk, the Assessment Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process has helped prisons manage self-harm. There are no easy answers to managing self-harming behaviour but NOMS is committed to managing and finding ways to reduce it.
	Government investment in prisons in recent years has resulted in a number of improvements in the women's estate: services for women who have misused drugs; programmes to address offending behaviour; in-reach community mental health teams; various resettlement projects, such as accommodation advice and mentoring. The Gender Specific Standards, which were published in April 2008 for implementation in April 2009, cover all areas of regime provision and should enhance improvements that have already been achieved in the care and management of women prisoners, including those vulnerable to suicide and self-harm.
	Suicide and self-harm prevention strategies specifically for women continue, with a focus on dealing with some of the underlying factors that can lead women to harm themselves. In addition, guidance about meeting the needs of women in prison who have suffered abuse in the past has been disseminated.

Translation Services

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many applications for mistrial or unlawful detention have been brought relating to a failure to provide adequate translation services by Applied Language Solutions in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what steps he is taking in respect of the failure to provide translators by Applied Language Solutions;
	(3)  how much his Department spent on translation services in each of the last 12 months.

Crispin Blunt: Information on applications for mistrial or unlawful detention in relation to a failure to provide adequate translation, or indeed interpretation services is not collected centrally.
	My officials continue to meet with the contractor and demand continued improvement in performance and seek to ensure that the contractor meets the contracted levels of performance. Contingency arrangements to minimise disruption to courts and tribunals will remain in place until then.
	Translation forms a small subset of overall spend on interpretation and translation services. Under the previous arrangements information on spending on translation services was not collected centrally. As made clear on 28 February 2012, Official  Report, column 190W, the cost across the justice system was estimated to be in the region of £60 million. Based on those estimates, spending in the Department is estimated to be in the region of £25-28 million per year across Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service, Her Majesty's Prison Service and the Probation Service. Because information on spending in this specific area has never been collected centrally, the Ministry is unable to provide a full monthly breakdown.

Young Offenders: Haringey

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 516W, on young offenders: Haringey, how many juvenile offenders from the London borough of Haringey have been held in each young offender institution since May 2005.

Crispin Blunt: The following tables show the number of juvenile offenders (aged 10 to 17) either sentenced or remanded in custody attached to the Haringey youth offending team (YOT) who have been held in each under 18 young offender institution in each month since May 2005 to February 2012.
	These data have been provided by the Youth Justice Board (YJB). The YJB holds data at the YOT area level, not at the local authority level. YOT area data may cover more than one local authority area.
	This is based upon monthly snapshot data. Therefore one young person who is serving more than one month in custody will be shown in more than one month in the table.
	The data from April 2011 onwards are provisional and will be finalised when the 2011-12 Youth Justice Statistics are published in 2013.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.
	
		
			 Young people attached to the Haringey youth offending team (YOT) held in each under 18 young offen der institution, May 2005 to February  2012 
			  Ashfield Brinsford Bullwood Hall Castington Cookham Wood Downview Eastwood Park Feltham 
			 2005         
			 May 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 6 
			 June 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 6 
			 July 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 3 
			 August 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 
			 September 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 9 
			 October 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 
			 November 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 
			 December 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 
			          
			 2006         
			 January 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 6 
			 February 1 3 0 0 1 1 0 9 
			 March 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 9 
			 April 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 10 
			 May 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 9 
			 June 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 10 
			 July 3 2 0 0 1 1 0 8 
			 August 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 10 
			 September 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 
			 October 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 
			 November 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 
			 December 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 
			          
			 2007         
			 January 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 
			 February 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 
			 March 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 
			 April 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 13 
			 May 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 
			 June 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 
			 July 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 11 
			 August 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 
			 September 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
			 October 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 
			 November 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 11 
			 December 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 
			          
			 2008         
			 January 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 
			 February 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 
		
	
	
		
			 March 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 
			 April 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
			 May 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
			 June 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 
			 July 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
			 August 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
			 September 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 
			 October 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
			 November 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
			 December 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			          
			 2009         
			 January 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 
			 February 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			 March 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			 April 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
			 May 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 June 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 
			 July 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 
			 August 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 
			 September 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 
			 October 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 
			 November 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 
			 December 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 
			          
			 2010         
			 January 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 7 
			 February 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 5 
			 March 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 
			 April 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 
			 May 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 7 
			 June 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 
			 July 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 
			 August 5 0 0 0 3 0 0 6 
			 September 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 9 
			 October 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 8 
			 November 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 
			 December 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 
			          
			 2011         
			 January 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 7 
			 February 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 7 
			 March 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 11 
			 April 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 9 
			 May 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 7 
			 June 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 7 
			 July 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 7 
			 August 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 8 
			 September 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 9 
			 October 7 0 0 0 3 1 0 14 
			 November 7 0 0 0 4 0 0 12 
			 December 5 0 0 0 4 0 0 12 
			          
			 2012         
			 January 4 0 0 0 4 1 0 14 
			 February 5 0 0 0 4 1 0 13 
		
	
	
		
			  Hindley Huntercombe Parc Stoke Heath Warren Hill Werrington Wetherby Woodhill 
			 2005         
			 May 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 4 
			 June 0 8 0 0 5 0 0 4 
			 July 1 11 0 0 5 0 0 3 
			 August 1 11 0 0 3 0 0 3 
			 September 0 8 0 0 3 0 0 3 
			 October 0 5 0 0 2 0 0 2 
			 November 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 December 0 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			          
			 2006         
			 January 0 10 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 February 0 8 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 March 0 10 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 April 0 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 May 0 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 June 0 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 July 0 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 August 0 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 September 0 12 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 October 0 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 November 0 12 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 December 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			          
			 2007         
			 January 0 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 February 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 March 0 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 April 0 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 May 0 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 June 0 9 0 0 0 2 1 0 
			 July 0 10 0 0 0 3 1 0 
			 August 0 7 0 0 0 3 1 0 
			 September 0 8 0 0 0 2 1 0 
			 October 0 8 0 0 1 4 1 0 
			 November 0 8 0 0 1 5 1 0 
			 December 0 11 0 0 2 4 1 0 
			          
			 2008         
			 January 0 10 0 0 2 4 1 0 
			 February 0 11 0 0 0 3 1 0 
			 March 0 13 0 0 3 1 1 0 
			 April 0 11 0 0 3 1 1 0 
			 May 0 10 0 0 3 0 1 0 
			 June 0 6 0 0 2 0 1 0 
			 July 0 5 0 0 2 0 1 0 
			 August 0 6 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 September 0 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 October 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 November 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 December 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			          
			 2009         
			 January 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 February 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 March 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 April 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 May 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 
		
	
	
		
			 June 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 July 0 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 August 0 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 September 0 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 October 0 10 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 November 0 9 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 December 0 11 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			          
			 2010         
			 January 0 11 0 0 2 0 1 0 
			 February 0 11 0 0 2 0 1 0 
			 March 0 10 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 April 0 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 May 0 6 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 June 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 
			 July 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 
			 August 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 
			 September 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 October 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 
			 November 1 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 
			 December 1 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 
			          
			 2011         
			 January 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 
			 February 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 
			 March 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 
			 April 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 
			 May 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 
			 June 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 
			 July 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 
			 August 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 
			 September 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 
			 October 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 
			 November 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 December 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			          
			 2012         
			 January 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 February 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 
			 Notes: 1. YJB data referring to secure training centres (STCs), secure children’s homes (SCHs), and under 18 young offender institutions (YOIs). This does not include 18 to 21 year olds held in YOI separate units for which the YJB do not hold data. This is based upon monthly snapshot data therefore one young person who is serving more than one month in custody will be shown in more than one month in the table. The figures from April 2011 onwards are provisional. 2. Young people are defined as those aged 10 to 17 years of age, however some 18 year olds remain in the secure estate for children and young people if they only have a short period of their sentence left to serve, to avoid disrupting their regimes (and are included in these figures). 3. The data comes from the Youth Justice Board's Secure Accommodation Clearing House System (SACHS). These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and may be subject to change over time.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadband

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the oral answer of 22 March 2012, Official Report, column 920, on ultrafast broadband, on what date he will publish the consultation detailing the timetable for awarding the funding to smaller cities for ultrafast broadband.

Edward Vaizey: I hope to publish details of the eligibility criteria shortly.

Broadband

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will publish the successful bids for the proposed super-connected cities.

Edward Vaizey: The Department intends to publish the winning bids in due course subject to the agreement of the cities and the requirement to edit the documents to respect commercial confidentiality.

Broadband: Liverpool

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to introduce ultra-fast broadband to Liverpool.

Edward Vaizey: Liverpool did not succeed in its recent bid for Urban Broadband Fund support for its ultrafast broadband plans. The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), welcomes the efforts that Liverpool made in constructing a bid and hopes that the process of doing so will be helpful to the city in driving forward its ambitions to introduce high-speed broadband.

Government: Ministerial Meetings

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had with Sarah Southern since 12 May 2010;
	(2)  what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had with Peter Cruddas since 12 May 2010.

John Penrose: None of this Department's Ministers, special advisers or officials have had meetings with Sarah Southern or Peter Cruddas since 12 May 2010.

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he had with ministerial colleagues prior to Budget 2012 on the changes to VAT charged on approved alterations announced in Budget 2012.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and I speak to our ministerial colleagues regularly about a broad range of issues.

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assistance he is planning to provide to owners of listed buildings who are not eligible for the listed places of worship grant scheme, following the changes to VAT charged on approved alterations.

John Penrose: English Heritage provides a wide range of advice and support to owners of listed buildings and their various associations; details are available on their website.
	Financially, Governments have not historically provided support (apart from churches through the Listed Places of Worship scheme) for repairs or maintenance of listed buildings, which have long been VAT-able at the same rate as non-listed structures.
	Instead, owners of listed buildings used to enjoy a VAT exemption for alterations (such as loft extensions or new conservatories) while everybody else had to pay VAT for the same work on an unlisted property. This created a perverse incentive for listed building owners to alter and modernise their properties rather than maintain the rare or beautiful old structure which was, of course, the reason why it was listed in the first place.
	The Budget puts these anomalies right. We have no plans to spend any more taxpayers' money by recreating them in some other way.

Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how he plans to extend the listed places of worship grant scheme; and how much it will cost to extend the scheme in the next financial year.

John Penrose: We will be extending the assistance provided by the Listed Places of Worship Scheme to ensure that alterations are also eligible for support. We have already begun consulting a range of organisations, both faith groups and heritage protection organisations, on the details of these changes.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to answer the letter sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 6 March with regard to Mr P. Furness.

John Penrose: The Department has no record of receiving the letter referred to. A copy of the letter has been requested from the office of the right hon. Member.

Olympic Games 2012

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the benefit of hosting the London 2012 Olympics to (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey.

Hugh Robertson: The south-east stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the 2012 games, through businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and cultural celebrations. Some examples of how Surrey and Woking constituency in particular will benefit from the games are given as follows.
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded contracts to over 230 direct suppliers in the south-east. Examples of companies based in your constituency that have supplied the ODA include Jointing Technologies and Mouchel Parkman Services Ltd. Also Allenby Coach Hire from Warlingham, who are providing transportation for the Olympic Family during games time, along with numerous other providers from across the UK. Other companies such as Land and Water Services from Guildford have delivered several contracts, including water drainage at the Olympic Park.
	Information on businesses that have directly supplied the ODA is available in the business section of the London 2012 website at the following link:
	http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda-suppliers/index.php
	This information does not include contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers two, three and so on, which are awarded by the tier one contractors and not by the ODA.
	So far 26,301 companies in the south-east have registered on Competefor (the website where London 2012 contract opportunities are advertised), and over 550 contracts have been awarded to Competefor suppliers in the south-east.
	To date, 3,485 schools and colleges in the south-east have registered for the London 2012 Organising Committee's (LOCOG) London 2012 education programme Get Set. Over 1,300 schools are already signed up to the new Olympic and Paralympic-style School Games in the south-east, over 150 of which are in Surrey.
	Over 2,500 cultural or sporting projects across the UK have been awarded the Inspire Mark, 258 of these are in the south-east. The Olympic Torch Relay will pass the south of Woking constituency on route to London on 21 July 2012 and to the north on 10 July 2012. Also, Guildford will host an Olympic Torch evening celebration on 20July 2012. Full details of the Olympic Torch route through Surrey can be found at:
	http://www.london2012.com/games/olympic-torch-relay/where-is-the-olympic-flame-going/locations-by-region-and-date.php?location=South+East&x=18&y=10
	There are seven Cultural Olympiad Projects in Surrey, engaging hundreds of local residents in the games. Surrey's Sporting Life is a series of exhibitions and re-enactments to celebrate the sporting heritage of Surrey and to provide opportunities for volunteering and active sport.
	Plans are under way with local community groups to hold a multi-cultural festival in Woking Park during summer 2012. Ideas include having five themes that represent the five Olympic rings—music, dance, language and literature, visual arts and sports.
	Pre-Games Training Camps (PGTCs) will also provide an opportunity to create further economic benefits, including inward investment, through the international attention that will follow. The south-east has 30 PCTCs confirmed so far. Notably, the Singapore National Olympic Committee will be located at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford and several international cycling teams will base themselves at hotels throughout Surrey, to enable training on the road route, ahead of the races. Over 1 million people are expected to visit Surrey to watch the road cycling. To enhance visitor experiences, Surrey council is recruiting up to 450 local volunteers.

Sports: Charitable Donations

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of changes announced in the Budget to tax relief on charitable donations on organisations providing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect of changes announced in the Budget to tax relief on charitable donations on organisations providing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in equestrian sports activities; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), speaks to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), regularly about a broad range of issues. As the Budget statement made clear on 21 March 2012, Official  Report, columns 793-808, the Government are committed to proactively working with philanthropists and charities to ensure that the removal of unlimited tax relief will not have a significant impact on charities which depend on large donations.

Sports: Charitable Donations

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with sport governing bodies on the potential effect of changes announced in the Budget to tax relief on charitable donations on organisations providing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of changes announced in the Budget to tax relief on charitable donations on organisations providing opportunities for young people to participate in sport; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with sport governing bodies on the potential effect of changes announced in the Budget to tax relief on charitable donations on organisations providing opportunities for people to participate in sport; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The Department has made no such assessment. To date, no national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport have written to the Department on this matter. However, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and I stand ready to discuss any issues of concern to the NGBs.

Travel

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 476W, on advisers, what assessment he has made of the effect on regional representation of not meeting the expenses of experts travelling to meetings in London.

John Penrose: No formal assessment has been made. Any expenses must be met by the individuals or organisations themselves.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Disabled Facilities Grants

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what systems for monitoring have been established to ensure that the disabled facilities grant devolved without ring-fencing to local authorities has been spent for the purposes for which it was intended;
	(2)  what monitoring his Department carries out to ensure that disabled facilities grant funding allocations for local authorities are spent on housing adaptations and other disabled facilities services; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: My Department provides funding for the disabled facilities grant, which is a statutory entitlement and helps to fund the provision of adaptations which enable disabled people to live as comfortably and independently as possible in their own homes.
	DCLG has secured £725 million for the grant in the 2010 spending review for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15. In 2011-12 the annual allocation for the grant rose to £180 million, an increase of £11 million compared to the 2010-11 budget of £169 million. The allocation for the grant will increase further to £185 million by the end of the spending review (2014-15). In January 2012, the Government invested an extra £20 million for the disabled facilities grant bringing the total grant in 2011-12 to £200 million.
	The funding is un-ringfenced, which provides local authorities with greater freedom and flexibility in delivering adaptations. Local authorities have a statutory duty to carry out adaptations under the disabled facilities grant. We have not imposed additional monitoring requirements, as this administration has a clear policy of seeking to reduce Whitehall interference and monitoring.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what formula was used to distribute the disabled facilities grant to local authorities; and what size of grant was distributed to each local authority;
	(2)  how much disabled facilities grant funding was allocated to each local authority; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The disabled facilities grant was protected in the 2010 spending review and the Department for Communities and Local Government wrote to all local authorities in January 2011 to announce a small change to the allocation methodology for the disabled facilities grant for the financial year 2011-12. In 2011-12 and 2012-13, there is £180 million available to be distributed as disabled facilities grant to local authorities—an extra £11 million more than was available in 2010-11—and all local authorities will, as a minimum, receive what they were allocated in 2010-11.
	The extra £11 million has been shared between the local authorities using a relative needs weighted index developed by the Building Research Establishment. In addition, in January 2012 we announced an additional £20 million disabled facilities grant funding, bringing the total in 2011-12 up to £200 million, which was also allocated to local authorities using the Building Research Establishment index. Details of the weighted index and the size of grant distributed to each local authority for 2012-13 are available on the DCLG website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingolderpeople/

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the iRail 2012 lecture by Professor Andrew McNaughton, Designing High Speed Rail for Britain, what assessment he has made of the suggestion that the construction of HS2 will lead to a new city constructed on greenbelt land in the Meriden Gap between Birmingham and Coventry; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: We have not made any assessment of the comments attributed to Professor Andrew McNaughton that the construction of High Speed 2 could lead to the development of a new city around the proposed Birmingham Interchange Station adjacent to the National Exhibition Centre, and nor has the Government ever made such a policy proposal. The National Planning Policy Framework, published on 27 March, contains clear policies for preventing inappropriate development on green-belt land.

High Street Review

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many towns have submitted applications to become Town Team pilots.

Grant Shapps: The Department has received 371 applications from towns that would like to become Town Team pilots. This is a fantastic response and a sign of the enthusiasm that is out there for high-street renewal.
	The pilots selected will generate many innovative ideas and we will ensure that the lessons learned are shared with all applicants, to support them as they take forward their plans for the high street.

Infrastructure: Environment Protection

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to include the role of green infrastructure as a core principle in the National Planning Policy Framework; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on steps to ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework reflects the role of green infrastructure in contributing to the UK's economic, social and environmental well-being; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: The important role of green infrastructure is reflected in the National Planning Policy Framework we published on 27 March. The framework makes it clear that local planning authorities should set out a strategic approach in their Local Plans, planning positively for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of networks of biodiversity and green infrastructure.
	Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.

Local Nature Partnerships

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether Local Nature Partnership plans will be taken into account as a material consideration in a planning application under the guidance of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Greg Clark: Any consideration relating to the use and development of land is, depending on the circumstances, capable of being material to a decision on a planning application. We are clear in the National Planning Policy Framework that planning policies and decisions should be based on up-to-date information about the natural environment and that, working with Local Nature Partnerships where appropriate, this should include an assessment of existing and potential components of ecological networks. The framework also states that planning authorities should work collaboratively on strategic planning priorities to enable the delivery of sustainable development, including in consultation with Local Nature Partnerships.

Localism Act 2011

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to make communities aware of the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 which are intended to save community pubs from demolition or closure.

Bob Neill: The Localism Act 2011 contains provisions to give local voluntary and community groups and parish councils the chance to nominate land or buildings to be listed as "assets of community value". Once the scheme has come into effect, if an asset is listed then when the owner decides to put the asset up for sale, a community interest group can trigger a six month moratorium (during which time the owner cannot enter into a relevant disposal of the asset). This will allow community groups more time to put together a business plan and raise capital to bid. The Community Right to Bid will not itself place any restriction on the owner's ability to close or demolish their pub.
	During the development of the legislation through Parliament, we have worked closely with representative groups of the relevant sectors, including the local government and third sector, which in turn have been raising awareness of the Community Right to Bid with their members.
	My Department launched a Community Rights microsite on 6 April to coincide with the Community Right to Build and Neighbourhood Planning provisions in the Localism Act coming into force. The site aims to inform groups about the new powers and opportunities available to them, inspire them with stories of what others are doing and allow them to find out what is happening in their local area. The site will continue to grow as more of the Rights e.g. the Community Right to Bid, come into force. The site can be accessed via the following link:
	http://communityrights.communities.gov.uk/
	To ensure that communities can effectively use the Community Right to Bid and other Community Rights, a package of support will be made available. The Department is currently procuring delivery partners to deliver support programmes to help groups to use the Community Rights. A key aspect of the delivery partners' role will be to raise awareness about the rights and provide information and tailored support to help communities exercise the rights effectively.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the effect of higher parking charges on the wider economy in towns and cities.

Grant Shapps: My Department has not undertaken any specific assessment. However, as outlined by the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill), on 7 December 2011, Official Report , columns 342-43W, making sure that car parking charges are reasonable is an important and practical way in which councils can help support their local high streets and wider local economy.
	In January 2011, my Department amended planning guidance to change a policy which inhibited parking charge competition between council areas to one that said parking charges should not undermine the vitality of town centres. We also introduced a policy that parking enforcement should be proportionate, and removed the last administration's policy that encouraged councils to set car parking charges to discourage the use of cars.
	In the Government's response to the Mary Portas Review, published last month, we stated:
	Where there is evidence that parking charges are having an adverse impact on the high street, we will consider issuing formal guidance for local authorities so they can support the high street, businesses and local communities more effectively.
	We encourage all local authorities to be transparent and publish parking costs. We will also take steps to ensure greater transparency on parking charges to introduce greater competition between town centres, and will look closely at how parking information could be made available when we review the “Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency”.

Peter Cruddas

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had any meetings with Peter Cruddas since May 2010.

Bob Neill: holding answer 18 April 2012
	Ministers and special advisers have not held a departmental meeting with Peter Cruddas since May 2010. Records of officials' meetings are not held centrally but I am not aware of any meetings with Peter Cruddas having taken place.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to issue guidance in addition to the National Planning Policy Framework to local authorities on how to comply with the duty to co-operate in section 110 of the Localism Act.

Greg Clark: When the National Planning Policy Framework was published, the Government said that they would review, with users of the planning system, existing and future underpinning guidance. The Government will now do that.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the £50 million funding for neighbourhood planning has been allocated.

Greg Clark: The Government have committed to providing up to £50 million until March 2015 to support local councils in making neighbourhood planning a success. As part of this in 2011-12 the neighbourhood planning front runners programme made available £4.66 million to local planning authorities to support the development of neighbourhood plans. We are considering funding options for 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2015-16 and will make an announcement in due course.

Planning Permission

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the community rights to challenge provisions in the Localism Act allow parish and town councils to challenge to exercise planning functions.

Andrew Stunell: The Community Right to Challenge will allow voluntary and community groups, parish councils and local authority and fire and rescue authority staff to bid to run services provided by or on behalf of the authority in the exercise of any of its functions. The Right does not make provision for the delegation of local authority functions.
	Statutory guidance relating to the Community Right to Challenge provisions will be published shortly when secondary legislation is laid in the House. Guidance will further explain the distinction between functions and services for the purposes of the Right to Challenge.
	For example, in relation to planning section 70(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 gives powers to local planning authorities to grant or refuse planning permission where a planning application is made to the authority. The Right does not allow for this function to be provided by a third party.
	Parish and town councils have a statutory right to notify local planning authorities if they wish to be consulted on all or any particular types of planning applications that affect their areas. Through the Localism Act, they also have new powers to prepare neighbourhood plans. These will form part of the statutory development plan for the area, which is the lead factor in assessing planning application.

Sarah Southern

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had any meetings with Sarah Southern since May 2010.

Bob Neill: holding answer 18 April 2012
	Ministers and special advisers have not held a departmental meeting with Sarah Southern since May 2010. Records of officials’ meetings are not held centrally but I am not aware of any meetings with Sarah Southern having taken place.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Apache helicopter stowing capability of (a) HMS Ocean and (b) HMS Illustrious is; and what the equivalent capability of HMS Queen Elizabeth will be.

Peter Luff: holding answer 19 March 2012
	HMS Ocean is capable of stowing six Apache aircraft on the flight deck and a further 14 in the hangar. HMS Illustrious is capable of stowing eight Apache aircraft on the flight deck and a further seven in the hangar. HMS Queen Elizabeth will be capable of stowing up to 20 Apache aircraft on the flight deck and approximately 20 in the hangar.

Armed Forces: Allowances

Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people of each rank and in each theatre of operation in each service have received the longer separation allowance in the last 12 months.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested will take time to collate. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.
	Substantive answer from Andrew Robathan to Sheryll Murray:
	I undertook to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question answered on 22 March 2012 (Official Report, column 834W) about the number of Service personnel by rank and theatre of operations who, in the last 12 months, have received the longer separation allowance. I am now in a position to provide you with the following information, although I am afraid I am unable to provide the level of granularity you seek for reasons of security:
	
		
			 RN/RM 
			  Officers SNCO's O/Ranks 
			 Afghanistan 810 840 2,580 
			 North Africa 480 700 1,950 
			 Middle East 490 820 2,170 
			 Other 610 1,330 9,390 
			 Total 2,390 3,690 16,090 
		
	
	
		
			 RAF 
			  Officers SNCO's O/Ranks 
			 Afghanistan 2,160 2,330 5,350 
			 North Africa 840 930 2,010 
			 Middle East 100 80 60 
			 Other 160 120 200 
			 Total 3,260 3,460 7,620 
		
	
	
		
			 Army 
			  Officers SNCO's O/Ranks 
			 Afghanistan 4,370 4,550 18,690 
			 North Africa 90 110 240 
			 Middle East 0 0 0 
			 Other 640 460 990 
			 Total 5,100 5,120 19,920

Armed Forces: Housing

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the additional funding to improve service family accommodation will be spent on energy efficiency measures in 2013-14.

Andrew Robathan: It is too early to say at this stage, what proportion of the additional funding allocated to improving service family accommodation will be spent on energy efficiency measures.

Armed Forces: Surveillance

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what surveillance capabilities are currently deployable by the armed forces; and what such capabilities will be deployable in 2015.

Peter Luff: ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) capability provides decision-makers across Defence with situational awareness and understanding, and underpins force protection.
	We have a range of deployable in-service capabilities. These include the Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control (SKASaC) helicopter, the Sentry Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft and the Sentinel ground surveillance system, all of which were used in Libya; SKASaC and Sentinel remain deployed in Afghanistan. Additionally, Reaper, Hermes 450 and Desert Hawk Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) procured as Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs), are in use over Afghanistan and the Merlin HM Mk1 is deployed to provide support to Oman to counter illicit activity in the maritime domain.
	Between now and 2015, Hermes 450 will be replaced incrementally by Watchkeeper and withdrawn from service. These plans are under consideration as part of the current planning round, as is the future of capabilities acquired as UORs once they are no longer required in Afghanistan.
	We are developing programmes to maintain our capabilities on Unmanned Aerial Systems, imagery intelligence, signals intelligence, airborne surveillance and base/force protection over the next decade. Owing to the sensitive nature of these programmes, many of the details remain classified. ISTAR is also moving into emerging areas such as cyberspace, supporting the pan-Government security agenda.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to bring all Mastiff, Ridgback and Foxhound vehicles back to the UK after the British role in Afghanistan has been completed.

Nick Harvey: It is intended to bring all serviceable Mastiff, Ridgback and Foxhound vehicles back from Afghanistan but the specific details, including timing and locations, are still to be determined. It is planned to return the vehicles to a number of sites across the UK and wider Ministry of Defence estate. We expect to make decisions on which vehicles will be retained as part of the core equipment programme during the course of the next year.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to keep sections of the Army fully trained in the use of Mastiff, Ridgback and Foxhound vehicles for use in future counter-insurgency operations.

Nick Harvey: It is not yet known which of these of vehicles will be retained as part of the core equipment programme. However, the Army's training programme will continue to reflect their use for as long as there is a requirement to do so.

Army: Scotland

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether he has considered conducting a review of the quality of the volunteer estate in Scotland;
	(2)  whether his Department's capacity review of the army estate in Scotland will incorporate the volunteer estate.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence is currently considering how best to assess capacity on the volunteer estate. This may involve including some volunteer estate sites in the current Basing Optimisation capacity study work that is in progress.

Assets

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) land and buildings, (b) single use military equipment, (c) dwellings and (d) other departmental assets were disposed of in each year since 2008; and what their value was.

Andrew Robathan: The total value of (a) land and buildings (excluding dwellings, but including the land on which they stand), (b) single use military equipment, (c) dwellings, and (d) other assets disposed of in each year since 2008 is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  (a) (b) (c) (d) 
			 2008-09 74 647 0 1,790 
			 2009-10 851 1,588 202 529 
			 2010-11 943 7,535 104 2,807 
		
	
	The figures above are the value of the assets in the MOD's accounts at the time of disposal, rather than any money received.
	The data for 2011-12 will published in the annual report and accounts, later in the year.
	I will place in the Library of the House a list of all land and buildings, including dwellings, sold by the Department in each year since 2008.
	A full list of all single use military equipment and other assets disposed in each year since 2008 is not stored centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Equipment

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of pieces of armed services equipment being available for purchase on the internet.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 April 2012, Official Report, columns 322-23W.

Defence Equipment and Support

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost to the public purse is of each equipment programme managed by Defence Equipment and Support.

Peter Luff: holding answer 18 April 2012
	I refer the hon. Member to the "Major Projects Report 2011: Ministry of Defence" published by the National Audit Office on 16 November 2011 (HC 1520-I and HC 1520-II).

Falkland Islands

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider giving the deployment of armed forces to the Falkland Islands an operational name; and if he will award a service medal to all personnel who have completed tours of duty.

Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence applies strict criteria for the award of campaign medals, requiring that a particular operation or commitment carries with it a level of rigour and physical threat over and above that which might normally be expected in the course of service with the armed forces.
	The role of those forces deployed to the Falkland Islands remains an entirely defensive one, to deliver in the South Atlantic the Government's standing commitments and responsibilities for the defence and security of the United Kingdom's Overseas Territories. There is no evidence of any current credible military threat to the security of the Falkland Islands, and we have no plans to give the deployment an operational name or to award a campaign medal to personnel who have served in the Falkland Islands since the 1982 conflict when the South Atlantic Medal was awarded.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the (a) CN-295, (b) Saab 2000 MPA, (c) P-3 Orion and (d) P-8 Poseidon airframes and their capacity to conduct (i) maritime surveillance, (ii) anti-submarine warfare and (iii) overland ISTAR and airborne early warning missions.

Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence conducted a capability investigation into our long-term requirements for maritime surveillance. This included a high-level assessment of a number of possible options to inform our future requirements. Regarding the conclusions of our investigations, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 February 2012, Official Report, column 654W, to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon).

Research

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what proportion of research and development expenditure in 2009-10 and 2010-11 was spent on (a) technology development, (b) operational research and (c) evaluating procurement options;
	(2)  what proportion of research and development expenditure in 2009-10 and 2010-11 was (a) related to major procurement programmes and (b) concerned with evaluating future procurement options.

Peter Luff: The information is not held centrally in the categories requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sentry Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the E-3D Sentry fleet has been grounded; for how long he expects it to remain grounded; and what assets are covering its (a) search and rescue, (b) intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance and (c) airborne early warning duties.

Peter Luff: The E-3D Sentry has not been grounded. The safety of our aircrews is paramount and as a precaution, following the discovery of faults in the radome supports of two aircraft, we have temporarily suspended non-operational routine flying. No time scale has yet been set for the resumption of routine flying. We are engaging with all stakeholders including industry to address the issue as quickly as possible.
	The force remains at readiness to meet UK and NATO commitments and operational flying will continue as required. Search and rescue services will continue to be provided using a range of assets.

Sentry Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets have been assigned to NATO's Airborne Early Warning and Control Force following the grounding of he E-3D Sentry fleet of aircraft.

Peter Luff: The E-3D Sentry has not been grounded. The E-3D Sentry is not currently required for any NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force operations. However, the force remains at readiness states to meet NATO operational commitments, as required.

TREASURY

Bankruptcy

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2012, Official Report, column 890W, on bankruptcy, if he will assess the effect of the Insolvency Service's proposals on reform of the process to apply for bankruptcy and compulsory winding-up on the ability of HM Revenue and Customs to recover unpaid debt.

David Gauke: The reforms proposed by the Insolvency Service are still being developed but it is not expected that they will impact on HMRC's ability to recover unpaid debt. There may be benefits through cost savings in reduced fees.

Budget March 2012

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on equality impact assessment of the 2012 Budget.

Chloe Smith: The Treasury is responsible for taking due regard of the equalities impact of the Budget. In line with its statutory obligations, HM Treasury considers the impact of policy measures on groups with protected characteristics as part of the policy development process. In addition, and consistent with steps taken by this Government to increase transparency and enable the effective scrutiny of policy making, the Treasury now publishes, jointly with HMRC, tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for individual tax measures. These TIINs set out the expected impacts of individual measures, including the expected equalities impacts. The document “Overview of tax legislation and rates”, published alongside Budget 2012, collects together in one place the TIINs for tax measures which will be legislated for in Finance Bill 2012. This document can be found online at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/ootlar.htm

Child Benefit

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the high income child benefit charge is classified as a tax.

David Gauke: Classification is a matter for the independent Office for National Statistics.

Credit

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure that institutions in which the Government hold shares through UK Financial Investments do not invest in or otherwise fund, directly or indirectly, payday loan companies or other companies offering short-term, high interest loans; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 18 April 2012
	UK Financial Investments (UKFI) was created in November 2008 as part of the UK's response to the financial crisis with the remit of managing the Government's shareholdings in publicly-supported financial institutions. UKFI manages these shareholdings on an arm’s length and commercial basis and is responsible for developing and executing a strategy for disposing of the investments in an orderly and active way.
	However, UKFI’s role is to manage the investments, not to manage the banks—the banks retain their own independent boards and management teams.
	Therefore, decisions regarding commercial relationships with other companies, including firms who offer payday financing arrangements, are commercial decisions for banks, and the Government and UKFI would not seek to intervene in these decisions.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department received on the 50% rate of tax prior to his recent Budget statement.

David Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Land: Sales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many transactions for the sale of land at a price of £2 million or over were completed in each month between January 2011 and February 2012.

David Gauke: It is not possible to estimate the number of transactions that solely involve the sale of undeveloped land.

Loans

Conor Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government plans to publish details of the types of business which will secure loans through the National Loan Guarantee Scheme.

Mark Hoban: National Loan Guarantee Scheme loans are available to all viable businesses with a turnover of up to £50 million that meet the participating banks' usual criteria.

Money Advice Service

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the Money Advice Service is delivering its objectives while also achieving value for money.

Mark Hoban: The Money Advice Service is an independent body and the Financial Services Authority approves its business plan and budget.
	The Money Advice Service makes an annual report to the FSA in relation to the discharge of its consumer financial education function, including setting out the extent to which the body has met its objectives and priorities for the period covered by the report. The annual report for 2010-11 is available on the Money Advice Service's website. The service will publish its 2011-12 annual report by July this year.

Money Advice Service

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the directors are of the Money Advice Service; what their salaries were in 2011-12; and what their salaries are in 2012-13.

Mark Hoban: The Money Advice Service will set out details of the directors' remuneration for the year 2011-12 in its annual report which will be published on its website by July, and details for 2012-13 will be provided in the same way in their annual report in July 2013. The names of the directors can be found on the Money Advice Website at:
	http://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/about/corporateinformation/board.aspx

Public Sector: Pay

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Financial Statement, what assessment he has made of the likely effect on (a) numbers of private sector jobs and (b) private sector growth rates of the introduction of regional pay rates for the public sector.

Chloe Smith: At autumn statement 2011 the Government asked the independent pay review bodies to consider how public sector pay can be made more responsive to local labour markets. The review bodies will report from July.
	Until formal proposals have been made by review bodies it will not be possible to assess the specific effect on private sector employment or growth.
	However, the Government believe that local, market-facing public sector pay should support local areas, with the potential to support a greater number of public sector jobs for the same level of spending, and help local businesses become more competitive and expand. The Government's evidence on the economics of local pay is available online via the Office of Manpower Economics at:
	www.ome.uk.com

Tax Allowances: Motor Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he made an assessment prior to his 2010 Budget of the effectiveness of rebate schemes which provide a refund to new car-buyers for purchasing low-emission cars funded by taxes on high-emission cars; and whether he has any plans to introduce such a scheme.

Chloe Smith: The Government support the uptake of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles through the provision of around £300 million to support customer incentives like the existing Plug-In Car Grant, which has been extended to include vans, and tax relief for zero and low emissions cars through company car tax.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), keeps all taxes under review along Budget timelines.

VAT

Mark Menzies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on VAT on self-catering and hotel accommodation; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 1 September 2011, Official Report, column 159, to the right hon. Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire), and 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 185W, to the hon. Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis).

Welfare Tax Credits

Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families with (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four or more children will cease to qualify for the family element of child tax credit in each constituency as a result of the second income threshold being withdrawn in April 2012.

David Gauke: This information is not available.
	The abolition of the second threshold for child tax credit is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review. All of the tax credits measures interact with each other and isolating the impact of any of these measures will not be representative of the overall change in a family's tax credit award.
	The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the packages of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_annexa.pdf
	http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
	The hon. Member may, however, be interested in the answer given to the recent parliamentary question 92158, on 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 644W. This answer gave the number of households in each constituency that will no longer be entitled to tax credits following the introduction of changes from April 2012.

Welfare Tax Credits

Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average annual change was in the value of tax credits paid to (a) single people with no children, (b) couples with no children, (c) single parents with one child, (d) single parents with two children, (e) single parents with three or more children, (f) couples with one child, (g) couples with two children, (h) couples with three children and (i) couples with four or more children.

David Gauke: Information on tax credit entitlements is published in the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2009-10, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/final-award-main.htm
	The exact breakdowns requested would be available only at disproportionate cost. However, table 1.2 in the publication gives the average entitlement for families in and out of work and with and without children for the years 2003-04 to 2009-10. Table 2.2 gives the average entitlement for families with children by family size.

Welfare Tax Credits

Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households with (a) one child, (b) two children, (c) three children, (d) four children and (e) five or more children are in receipt of child benefit in each constituency.

David Gauke: This information is published in the HMRC publication ‘Child Benefit Statistics Geographical analysis at Country, Region, Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency levels’. Information for August 2011 can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/chb-geog-aug11.pdf
	Table 6 has this information by Westminster parliamentary constituency.

Welfare Tax Credits

Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households claimed the childcare element of working tax credit in each constituency in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and what the average value of claims was in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

David Gauke: The number of families benefitting from the child care element and the average value of claim for 2009-10 is available, in the HMRC publication ‘Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2009-10 Geographical Analysis’, which can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/final-award-geog.htm
	The data for each Westminster parliamentary constituency can be found in table 3. Figures for 2010-11 and 2011-12 are not yet available. 2010-11 data will be available in May 2012. 2011 -12 will be available in May 2013.
	More recent data on the number of families claiming the child care element are available in the HMRC publication ‘Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Geographical Analyses December 2011’:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	This publication takes a snapshot of the tax credits population and therefore shows the number of claimants at a particular point in time based on the family circumstances that we have been informed of at that time. The value of claims is not available in these data.
	Table 4 has the information by Westminster parliamentary constituency.

Welfare Tax Credits

Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people claimed the tax credit 50+ return to work payment in respect of (a) between 16 and 29 hours and (b) in excess of 30 hours in each constituency in 2011-12.

David Gauke: A table which has been placed in the Library provides the requested information for 2009-10, which is the latest finalised year for which data are available. This information is not yet available for 2011-12.
	To avoid the possible disclosure of information about individual families, including by comparison with other analyses, all the figures have been individually rounded to the nearest five. The rounded totals may therefore not equal the sum of the rounded components.

Welfare Tax Credits

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of households in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) St Helens, (c) Merseyside and (d) England who will no longer be entitled to tax credits following the introduction of changes to those credits from April 2012;
	(2)  how many households were in receipt of child tax credit payments in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) St Helens, (c) Merseyside and (d) England in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many households were in receipt of working tax credit payments in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) St Helens, (c) Merseyside and (d) England in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Estimate of the number of households that will no longer be entitled to tax credits following the introduction of changes to tax credits from April 2012 
			 In 2012-13, thousand 
			  Number 
			 St Helens South and Whiston 1.6 
			 St Helens 2.8 
			 Merseyside 17.6 
			 England 711.3 
		
	
	For the requested child and working tax credit statistics, I refer the right hon. Member to the two PQs 97345 and 97344 answered on 29 February 2012, Official Report, column 336W.

EDUCATION

Academies

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to section 9 of the Academies Act 2010, what arrangements he has put in place to take account of the effects of establishing an additional school on neighbouring schools.

Nick Gibb: Section 9 of the Academies Act 2010 requires the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), to consider any effects of establishing an additional school on neighbouring schools. Before entering into a funding agreement, each proposal for a new free school is subject to an analysis of what the likely impact of establishing the additional school would be on maintained schools, academies, institutions within the further education sector and alternative provision in the area in which the additional school is (or is proposed to be) situated.

Children: Obesity

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to tackle childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating in academies and free schools.

Sarah Teather: Schools that have converted to become academies will already have been complying with the school food standards. There is no reason to believe that they would stop doing so on conversion. We have asked the School Food Trust to survey school food in a sample of academies and free schools.
	There is good evidence of the benefits of a balanced meal on pupils' concentration, behaviour and ability to learn. Given this evidence we expect that free schools and academies will still want to promote healthy eating and good nutrition through the provision of high quality lunch services.

GCSE

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of students in (a) maintained, (b) private and (c) all schools were granted special consideration enhancements in at least one subject at GCSE in the most recent year for which information is available.

Nick Gibb: The independent qualifications regulator, Ofqual, monitors closely the use of the 'Special Consideration' arrangements. 'Special Considerations' are adjustments to candidates' marks where either: (a) their performance has been affected because of temporary illness, injury or other indisposition, in which case the adjustment can be up to five per cent of the maximum mark of a question paper; or (b) where they have missed an examination for an acceptable reason.
	The data on Special Considerations for the summer 2011 series in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were published in October 2011 on Ofqual's website:
	www.ofqual.gov.uk/standards/150/366
	The figures relate to both GCSEs and A-levels: separate figures are not collected. Applications were approved in relation to 354,200 scripts (2.4% of the total). Figures are not collected on the number of candidates granted Special Consideration; nor on the types of school or other institution making applications.

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of year 11 academy pupils achieved at least (a) five A* to C GCSEs, excluding any other qualification judged to be equivalent and (b) five A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics but excluding any other qualification judged equivalent in each academy in 2010-11; and how many and what proportion of such pupils were entitled to free school meals.

Nick Gibb: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries. The table shows the percentage of academy pupils who achieved at least five A* to C GCSEs excluding equivalents in each academy in 2010-11 (part a). For the other information requested, please see the 2011 performance tables at the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/download_data.html

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what proportion of GCSEs A* to C grades or equivalent were (a) academic GCSEs, (b) applied GCSEs and (c) other qualifications judged to be equivalent to A* to C GCSEs in 2010-11; and how many students in each such category were in receipt of free school meals;
	(2)  what proportion of academy Key Stage Four exam entries in 2010-11 were in (a) academic GCSEs, (b) applied GCSEs and (c) other qualifications equivalent to A* to C GCSEs; and how many students were in receipt of free school meals in each such category.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is presented for academies in the following tables. Data has been provided on disadvantaged pupils (those eligible for free school meals or being looked after), rather than purely free school meal eligible pupils. This is consistent with data presented in performance tables and providing free school meal data on this occasion may lead to a risk of disclosing information about individual pupils.
	
		
			 Entries and A*-C pass volumes of selected GCSE and equivalent qualifications by pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 in 2010/11 by academy type 
			  Volume (1)  and percentage of entries—Academic GCSEs (2) Volume (1)  and percentage of entries—Applied GCSEs (3) Volume (1)  and percentage of entries—other qualifications to A*-C GCSE (4) Volume (1)  and percentage of entries—other KS4 qualifications at level 1 and below (5) 
			  No. % No. % No. % No. % 
			 Sponsor-led academies(6)—total A*-C passes 143,407 40 4,019 1 211,195 59 n/a n/a 
			 Converter academies(7)—total A*-C passes 35,629 69 498 1 15,518 30 n/a n/a 
			 All academies—total A*-C passes 179,036 44 4,517 1 226,713 55 n/a n/a 
			 Sponsor-led academies(6)—total entries 239,822 50 7640 2 215,782 45 21,104 4 
			 Converter academies(7)—total entries 43,084 71 866 1 15,682 26 1,406 2 
			 All academies—total entries 282,906 52 8,506 2 231,464 42 22,510 4 
			 (1) Volume is expressed in terms of total GCSE-sized entries—for example a GCSE double award contributes two GCSEs to the overall volume and a short course contributes a half. (2) Academic GCSEs include full, short course and double award GCSEs and iGCSEs. (3) Applied GCSEs include single and double awards. (4) Other qualifications equivalent to an A*-C GCSE include level 2 qualifications that contribute to a school's 5 A*-C threshold in the Performance Tables such as BTEC/OCR certificates and diplomas, Basic/key/functional skills, Level 2 NVQs and VRQs. GCE/Applied AS levels taken by Key Stage 4 pupils are also included here. The Department does not collect entry numbers for every qualification type in this category. Where entry information is not available, the number of qualification awards has been used as a proxy for entries. (5) Entries in qualifications at level 1 and below (i.e. those that cannot achieve a pass equivalent to a grade A*-C). The Department does not collect entry numbers for every qualification type in this category. Where entry information is not available, the number of qualification awards has been used as a proxy for entries. (6) A school that has been underperforming for a number of years would normally become a sponsor-led Academy, with the support of a proven Academy sponsor, (7) All schools that are performing well can apply to convert to Academy status in their own right as a converter Academy. Other schools can also do so, providing they work in formal partnership with a school that is performing well. 
		
	
	
		
			 Disadvantaged pupils (1)  entering and achieving GCSE and equivalent qualifications by academy type, 2010/11 
			  No. of disadvantaged pupil—Academic GCSEs (2) No. of disadvantaged pupil—Applied GCSEs (3) No. of disadvantaged pupil—Other qualifications equivalent to A*-C GCSE (4) No. of disadvantaged pupils—Other KS4 qualifications at level 1 and below (5) 
			 Sponsor-led academies(6)—achieving at least one A*-C pass 6,440 561 9,438 N/A 
			 Converter academies(7)—achieving at least one A*-C pass 227 26 238 N/A 
			 All academies—achieving at least one A*-C pass 6,667 587 9,676 N/A 
			 Sponsor-led academies(6)—at least 1 entry in qualification type 10,214 1,310 9,493 4,594 
			 Converter academies(7)—at least 1 entry in qualification type 291 59 241 123 
			 All academies—at least 1 entry in qualification type 10,505 1,369 9,734 4,717 
			 (1) Disadvantaged pupils are those who are eligible for free school meals or are looked after (have been in the care of the local authority for at least six months). This definition is consistent with figures published in the School Performance Tables. (2) Academic GCSEs include full, short course and double award GCSEs and iGCSEs. (3) Applied GCSEs include single and double awards. (4) Other qualifications equivalent to an A*-C GCSE include level 2 qualifications that contribute to a school's 5 A*-C threshold in the Performance Tables such as BTEC/OCR certificates and diplomas, Basic/key/functional skills, Level 2 NVQs and VRQs. GCE/Applied AS levels taken by Key Stage 4 pupils are also included here. The Department does not collect entry numbers for every qualification type in this category. Where entry information is not available, the number of qualification awards has been used as a proxy for entries. (5) Entries in qualifications at level 1 and below (i.e. those that cannot achieve a pass equivalent to a grade A*-C). The Department does not collect entry numbers for every qualification type in this category. Where entry information is not available, the number of qualification awards has been used as a proxy for entries. (6) A school that has been underperforming for a number of years would normally become a sponsor-led Academy, with the support of a proven Academy sponsor. (7) All schools that are performing well can apply to convert to Academy status in their own right as a converter Academy. Other schools can also do so, providing they work in formal partnership with a school that is performing well.

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of year 11 academy pupils (a) in total and (b) in each academy were entered for (i) history GCSE, (ii) a geography GCSE, (iii) a modern foreign language GCSE, (iv) a physics GCSE, (v) a chemistry GCSE, (vi) a biology GCSE, (vii) a science GCSE, (viii) an English GCSE, (ix) an English literature GCSE, (x) a mathematics GCSE, (xi) an OCR national level 2 qualification in information and communications technology and (xii) a diploma in digital application in 2010-11; and how many and what proportion in each such category were eligible for free school meals.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is presented in the following tables.
	School level information on GCSE entries in specific subjects can be downloaded by clicking the ‘Full GCSE’ link on the Department for Education website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/download_data.html
	
		
			 GCSE and equivalent exam entries at the end of key stage 4 in academies (1) , 2011 
			  Number and percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in academies who were entered for: 
			   GCSE 
			   History Geography Modern Foreign Language Biology Chemistry Physics 
			 Sponsor-led academies No. 8,445 6,085 8,935 5,094 4,787 4,779 
			  % 20.7 14.9 21.9 12.5 11.8 11.7 
			         
			 Converter academies No. 2,073 1,846 2,717 ,735 1,684 1,663 
			  % 41.5 36.9 54.4 34.7 33.7 33.3 
			         
			 All academies No. 10,518 7,931 11,652 6,829 6,471 6,442 
			  % 23.0 17.3 25.5 14.9 14.2 14.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Number and percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in academies who were entered for: 
			       OCR National level 2 Diploma 
			   Science English English Literature Maths ICT Digital Apps 
			 Sponsor-led academies No. 24,865 39,718 21,612 40,017 9,128 304 
			  % 61.1 97.5 53.1 98.3 22.4 0.7 
			         
			 Converter academies No. 4,153 4,984 4,265 4,985 686 192 
			  % 83.1 99.8 85.4 99.8 13.7 3.8 
			         
			 All academies No. 29,018 44,702 ,25,877 45,002 9,814 496 
			  % 63.5 97.8 56.6 98.4 21.5 1.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Number and percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 eligible for free school meals in academies who were entered for: 
			   GCSE 
			   History Geography Modern Foreign Language Biology Chemistry Physics 
			 Sponsor-led academies No. 1,573 1,148 1,677 726 670 673 
			  % 3.9 2.8 4.1 1.8 1.6 1.7 
			         
			 Converter academies No. 69 74 86 37 34 33 
			  % 1.4 1.5 1.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 
			         
			 All academies No. 1,642 1,222 1,763 763 704 706 
			  % 15.7 11.7 16.9 7.3 6.8 6.8 
		
	
	
		
			   Number and percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 eligible for free school meals in academies who were entered for: 
			       OCR National level 2 Diploma 
			   Science English English Literature Maths ICT Digital Apps 
			 Sponsor-led academies No. 5,424 9,723 4,449 9,794 1,797 60 
			  % 13.3 23.9 10.9 24.1 4.4 0.1 
			         
			 Converter academies No. 212 273 204 271 45 21 
			  % 4.2 5.5 4.1 5.4 0.9 0.4 
			         
			 All academies No. 5,636 9,996 4,653 10,065 1,842 81 
			  % 54.1 95.9 44.6 96.5 17.7 0.8 
			 (1) Based on school type at the 12 September 2010. This means that the academies included in these answers cover both sponsored academies and schools that had converted to academy status by that date. A school that has been underperforming for a number of years would normally become a sponsor-led academy, with the support of a proven academy sponsor. All schools that are performing well can apply to convert to academy status in their own right as a converter academy. Other schools can also do so, providing they work in formal partnership with a school that is performing well.

Music: Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what arrangements his Department has put in place to support high quality music teaching in schools (a) on the Isle of Wight and (b) in England after the implementation of a funding formula based on pupil numbers.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 22 March 2012
	The National Plan for Music Education, published in November 2011, set out future priorities and funding for music services in 2012-15. We are creating a national network of music education hubs to support high quality music teaching. These will build on the work undertaken by local music services. From September 2012, the hubs will work in partnership with schools, education and arts organisations, within a framework described in the National Plan. Hubs will ensure consistency of provision and opportunity for all pupils.
	Funds will be distributed to music education hubs following an open application process, conducted by Arts Council England. The Department for Education will retain responsibility for music education policy and local authorities are expected to play a significant, and in many cases leading role in the delivery of music education. We published grant allocations for each local authority area alongside the National Plan, designed to turn around the historic imbalance in funding. Allocations for individual local authority areas, including the Isle of Wight, were published alongside the National Plan. This is available at
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/subjects/a00200352/national-plan-for-music-education

Nursery Schools

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many two-year-olds will be eligible for 15 hours per week of free nursery care in (a) Woking constituency, (b) Surrey and (c) England by 2015.

Sarah Teather: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in the autumn statement that the early education entitlement for two-year-olds will be expanded to around 260,000 children. The Government intend to take a phased approach to the implementation of the new entitlement. The 20% most disadvantaged two-year-olds will be eligible from September 2013. From 2014, the entitlement will be extended to around 40% of two-year-olds.
	We estimate that around 1,600 two-year-olds in Surrey, and less than 100 in the area covered by Woking borough council, are likely to be eligible for the entitlement in 2013. We are considering eligibility criteria for the second phase, and will consult in due course.

Ofsted

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if his Department will conduct an inquiry into Ofsted's correspondence procedures with hon. Members;
	(2)  how many complaints have been made to his Department about breach of confidentiality by Ofsted.

Nick Gibb: holding answers 16 April 2012
	I am unaware of any complaints having being made to the Department regarding breaches of confidentiality by Ofsted. The Department is not, therefore, planning to conduct an inquiry into Ofsted's correspondence procedures with hon. Members. As Ofsted is a separate non-ministerial government department, matters relating to the way that Ofsted conducts its business are the responsibility of Her Majesty's chief inspector. Any concerns about the way that the chief inspector performs his functions can be directed to the chairman of the Office for Standards in Education Children's Services and Skills.

Pupil Exclusions

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children between the ages of four and 11 years were (a) suspended and (b) suspended more than once from school in (i) Leeds North West constituency, (ii) Leeds and (iii) England in 2011.

Nick Gibb: Information on exclusions for the 2010/11 academic year is still being collected and will be available in the summer. Information on the number of pupil enrolments with one or more fixed period exclusions in 2009/10 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Maintained primary, state-funded secondary and special schools (1, 2, 3) . Number of pupil enrolments aged between 4 and 11 with one or more fixed period exclusions (4 ) 2009/10. England, Leeds local authority and Leeds North West parliamentary constituency 
			  Pupil enrolments aged between 4 and 11 
			  Number of pupil enrolments with at least one fixed period exclusion Percentage of school population (5) Number of pupil enrolments with at least one fixed period exclusion Percentage of school population (5) 
			 England 37,820 0.85 14,590 0.33 
			 Leeds local authority 460 0.74 200 0.32 
			 Leeds North West parliamentary constituency 30 0.59 20 0.30 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (4) Pupils may be counted more than once if they moved schools during the year, or are registered at more than one school. (5) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) aged between 4 and 11 at January 2010. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census 
		
	
	The latest data on exclusions was published in the 'Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusions from Schools in England 2009/10' Statistical First Release on 28 July 2011 at
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001016/index.shtml

Special Educational Needs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to improve educational provision for children with special needs.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 18 April 2012
	The Government will publish shortly a report on the Green Paper ‘Support and aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs and disability’ setting out progress to date and next steps and a summary of the consultation responses. We remain committed to achieving the ambitious programme set out in the Green Paper and will ensure that a copy of the document is placed in the House Libraries as soon as it is published.

Special Educational Needs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department provides to local authorities which wish to improve their special needs provision.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 18 April 2012
	Local authorities are in the best position themselves to decide how to improve the special educational needs (SEN) provision in their local areas, consulting their local authority peers, schools and other agencies, such as local health providers. The SEN and disability Green Paper, “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”, said that the Government would encourage greater collaboration between local areas to improve services for disabled children and those with SEN. Six of the 20 pathfinders set up following the Green Paper cover two or more local authority areas.
	There is statutory guidance available to local authorities in the form of the SEN Code of Practice and “Inclusive Schooling: Children with Special Educational Needs”. Non-statutory guidance on "Planning and Developing Special Educational Provision" is also available from the Department.

TRANSPORT

Airport Expansion: South-East

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has any plans for the expansion of airports in the south east.

Justine Greening: In the summer, we will consult on an overarching sustainable framework for UK aviation and alongside this we will publish a call for evidence on maintaining effective UK hub airport connectivity.
	Proposals for development at individual airports are a commercial matter for the relevant airport operator. The Government set the policy framework within which developments take place.

Trunks

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her future strategy is for trunk roads linking England and Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Penning: In recognition of the importance of connectivity with Edinburgh, this Government announced in May 2010 that the A1 north of Newcastle would be designated as a route of strategic national importance. This recognises the road's importance for freight and other strategic traffic travelling between Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Bus Service Operator Grant

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the effect on bus services of the reduction in the bus service operator grant.

Norman Baker: We believe that any effect on fare or service levels resulting from the reduction in the Bus Service Operator Grant (BSOG) rate for England should be small. BSOG rates in Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government.

Bus Service Operator Grant

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to ensure the bus service operator grant encourages operators to use more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Norman Baker: The recent paper which I published on 26 March, “Green Light for Better Buses”, proposes several changes to the current system of bus services operators grant (BSOG), including our intention to move away from paying BSOG on the basis of how much fuel bus operators use, so incentivising them to improve the fuel efficiency of their vehicles.

High Speed 2

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the cost-benefit ratio for phase 1 of the High Speed 2 rail project.

Justine Greening: As part of the analysis which informed my decisions in January, in the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of Phase 1, including wider economic impacts, of HS2 was 1.7 and for the full Y network, including wider economic impacts, it was between 1.8 and 2.5.
	Since then, we have adjusted to a number of technical issues on the modelling of all of the options we assessed and we estimate that this would lead to a reduction in the BCR for the London to west midlands scheme of approximately 0.2. We are in any case in the process of updating these BCRs, and intend to publish updated economic analysis later in the summer.

Public Transport: London

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the cost of public transport in London; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Under devolution it is for the Mayor of London to set fares and allocate funds to transport priorities in the capital, in line with the Mayor's Transport Strategy. Fares are making an essential contribution to funding the upgrade programme for the London underground.

Local Transport Schemes: Funding

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on the devolution of funding for major local transport schemes.

Norman Baker: My Department has held discussions with a number of local authorities before and during the consultation period on the devolution of funding for local major transport schemes. The formal consultation exercise closed on 2 April and we are now reviewing the responses. We will publish our firm proposals later in the year.

Department's Horseferry Road Offices

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the electricity usage of her Department's Horseferry road offices; and if she will make a statement.

Norman Baker: The Department's Horseferry road electricity usage is monitored half hourly and the data is published on the DfT website.
	In the period 1 April 2011 to 29 February 2012, the Horseferry road office electricity consumption reduced by 16.8% in comparison to the same period in the previous financial year.

Bus Fares

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect on jobseekers of bus fare increases.

Norman Baker: Bus fares outside London fell by 4% in real terms between March 2009 and March 2011. Outside London, the majority of bus fares are set by commercial operators in a deregulated market. Local transport authorities can provide discretionary concessions to any specific group of people, for example jobseekers, and Jobcentre Plus can offer a range of transport support, such as covering the cost of a jobseeker's essential transport—for example, travel to training and interviews.

Blue Badge Scheme

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department is considering making any changes to the criteria for blue badges in respect of mental health disabilities.

Norman Baker: Eligibility for a Blue Badge is not condition-specific. People with mental health disabilities may already be eligible for a badge if they are unable to walk or have considerable difficulty walking, or if they are in receipt of an award under the higher rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance.
	My Department considered eligibility for a Blue Badge as part of major reforms to the scheme that we have almost completed. I announced in February 2011 some limited eligibility extensions to severely disabled service personnel and to children under three years old with specific medical conditions. I also announced that we did not have plans to extend eligibility to other groups of disabled people. With over 2.5 million badges already on issue, it is important that we ensure the scheme remains sustainable in the long term and protects the concession for those who need it the most.

Driving: Licensing

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average time taken by the DVLA was to process applications for return of driving licences from people who were previously medically barred from driving but whose doctors have given them clearance to drive in the latest period for which figures are available.

Michael Penning: Information about the average time taken to return driving licences to people who previously had their application refused or their driving licence revoked for medical reasons is not held. However, the Secretary of State has set targets for dealing with applications involving medical conditions. These are:
	(1) to complete 88% of medical applications, where sufficient medical information is provided with the initial application, within 15 days; and
	(2) to complete 85% of medical applications, where further information is required, within 90 days.
	In 2011, DVLA exceeded both targets. Where sufficient medical information was provided with the original application, 97% of driving licences were returned within 15 days. Where further medical inquiries were needed 90% of applications were returned within 90 working days.

Heathrow Airport

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration she plans to give to the proposal to ease restrictions on night flights by the Airbus A380 at Heathrow airport.

Theresa Villiers: I refer my hon. Friend to the ministerial statement I made on 26 March 2012, Official Report, column 97WS.

Leader of the Opposition: Official Cars

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government Car Service has provided a car or travel services to the Leader of the Opposition since May 2010; and at what cost to the public purse.

Michael Penning: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of the 16 April 2012, Official Report, columns 56-57W.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 January 2012, Official Report, columns 19-20WS, on charging heavy goods vehicles, for which types of heavy goods vehicles in each vehicle excise duty taxation category the overall cost burden will increase under her proposals; and by how much for each such category.

Michael Penning: holding answer 18 April 2012
	The proposals are currently out to consultation and no decisions have yet been made. How much would be paid depends on a number of factors which could change between now and the implementation date of charging, including the exchange rate with the Euro and inflation. However information was published on 22 February showing what would be paid by different types of vehicle if charging were introduced now and if reductions in Vehicle Excise Duty were the method chosen to compensate UK hauliers, as seems most likely. The information can be found here:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-03/heavy-goods-vehicle-charges.xls

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicles paid vehicle excise duty in each category in each of the last five years; how much revenue was raised from each category; and whether her Department has made an estimate of future levels of revenue in each category.

Michael Penning: holding answer 18 April 2012
	The number of vehicles registered at the end of each calendar year, for 2007 to 2011 is provided in the following table. Some vehicles which also paid vehicle excise duty at some point of the year but which were declared SORN at the end of the year or were deregistered during the year have not been included.
	DVLA cannot provide revenue for each category as it does not hold the financial data in the format requested. The volume information in the table cannot be used to calculate revenue for a variety of reasons such as exemptions, SORN, refunds and so on.
	We have not made estimates of future levels of revenue from vehicle excise duty for heavy goods vehicles. It depends on the introduction of HGV road user charging. For example, hauliers might choose to tax their vehicle in a different band as a result.
	
		
			 HGVs taxed in the goods taxation class, in each VED category, licensed at the end of the year: 2007 to 2011 
			 Numbers of HGVs taxed 
			 HGV Taxation Category 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 
			 Vehicles without a Reduced Pollution Certificate      
			 Band A 127,164 132,573 140,340 149,137 157,602 
			 Band A* Non-Road Friendly Suspension 461 1,367 — — — 
			 Band A* Road Friendly Suspension 2,514 1,021 — — — 
			 Band B 18,631 18,869 26,124 27,306 28,445 
			 Band B* Non-Road Friendly Suspension 5,805 6,444 — — — 
			 Band B* Road Friendly Suspension 1,565 751 — — — 
			 Band C 1,667 1,867 3,795 4,490 5,247 
			 Band C* Non-Road Friendly Suspension 781 1,349 — — — 
			 Band C* Road Friendly Suspension 664 298 — — — 
			 Band D 78,440 78,491 80,603 86,481 92,473 
			 Band D* Non-Road Friendly Suspension 1,287 1,706 — — — 
			 Band D* Road Friendly Suspension 1,169 577 — — — 
			 Band E 93,361 90,713 87,908 95,425 103,347 
			 Band F 1,525 1,285 1,356 1,500 1,587 
			 Band G 4,556 4,839 5,009 5,931 7,457 
			 Band Unknown 1 1 2 — 1 
			       
			 Vehicles with a Reduced Pollution Certificate      
			 Band A 673 1,027 1,989 1,540 579 
			 Band A* Non-Road Friendly Suspension 28 160 — — — 
			 Band A* Road Friendly Suspension 339 162 — — — 
			 Band B 577 656 1,306 648 361 
			 Band B* Non-Road Friendly Suspension 356 478 — — — 
			 Band B* Road Friendly Suspension 99 43 — — — 
			 Band C 463 534 871 752 700 
			 Band C* Non-Road Friendly Suspension 141 211 — — — 
			 Band C* Road Friendly Suspension 90 48 — — — 
			 Band D 10,752 11,634 13,633 11,511 8,319 
			 Band D* Non-Road Friendly Suspension 442 506 — — — 
			 Band D* Road Friendly Suspension 353 107 — — — 
			 Band E 18,985 20,825 22,785 20,167 14,318 
			 Band F 255 247 286 310 359 
			 Band G 1,039 1,149 1,400 1,265 1,094 
			 Band Unknown — 1 — — — 
			 Total 374,183 379,939 387,407 406,463 421,889

Railways

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which routes and franchises driver only operated trains were operated in May 2010.

Theresa Villiers: Driver Only Operated services ran on the following franchised routes in May 2010:
	c2c
	London—Shoeburyness;
	London—Pitsea via both Rainham and Ockendon
	Chiltern Railways
	London to Banbury;
	London to Aylesbury
	First Capital Connect
	Bedford—Brighton;
	Bedford—Sutton/Wimbledon
	First Great Western
	London—Oxford;
	London—Bedwyn
	National Express East Anglia
	All 'West Anglia' services;
	Great Eastern Main Line services, excluding London—Norwich locomotive-hauled services
	Southeastern
	All High Speed 1 services;
	All inner suburban services
	Southern
	Gatwick Express;
	Brighton Express;
	All inner suburban services
	In addition, First Scotrail (Transport Scotland franchise) and London Overground (Transport for London concession) operate some driver-only services on suburban routes.

Railways: Electrification

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost-benefit ratio is of each application she has received for electrification in the high level output specification programme.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport is currently reviewing outline business cases for a number of rail electrification proposals to ensure that they comply with Departmental appraisal guidance. Until such reviews are complete, the business cases, including, where applicable, cost-benefit ratios, can not be finalised.

Railways: Electrification

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received in relation to the use of EU funding on electrification of railway lines in Wales.

Theresa Villiers: None. The Department is in discussion with the Welsh Government and the Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), regarding the funding of potential rail electrification schemes in South Wales, including the possible use of EU funding.

Railways: Electrification

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to make a decision on the electrification of the Midland mainline.

Theresa Villiers: The Government are currently reviewing the business case for electrification of the Midland main line and expects to announce decisions on rail investment in the period from 2014 to 2019 by July 2012.

Railways: Franchises

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what changes in the financial performance of the owning group of a company which has completed the pre-qualification process for a rail franchise her Department deems significant enough to be considered during the bidding process;
	(2)  what consideration her Department gives to the financial performance of owning groups of companies which have completed the pre-qualification process during the bidding process for rail franchises.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 18 April 2012
	The Department undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the financial and economic standing of bidder owning groups at pre qualification stage and during the bidding phase of all franchise competitions. This analysis draws on a variety of sources of information including that supplied by the bidders, in addition to information from credit rating agencies and brokers. Prior to awarding a franchise, the Department will routinely refresh this analysis to satisfy itself that the owning group remains a suitable candidate to operate a UK rail franchise.
	In addition to the analysis, the financial health of owning groups and individual franchises is monitored on an ongoing basis as part of the Department's franchise management process.

Rolling Stock

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department received a formal offer from Alstom to build five-car Pendolino trains for use on the Glasgow to Manchester Trans-Pennine passenger service.

Theresa Villiers: The procurement of trains for use on the Glasgow to Manchester Trans-Pennine passenger service was managed by London Midland with input from TPE. However, the Department understands that no such offer was made.

Rolling Stock

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with train manufacturers concerning the procurement of new units for the Manchester to Glasgow Transpennine Express route.

Theresa Villiers: An announcement was made by TPE at the end of February this year that 10 New Class 350/4 units built by Siemens would commence delivery in December 2013 to operate service between Manchester and Scotland.

Shipping

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will establish a cross-departmental maritime strategy for the UK.

Michael Penning: The Government have a strong cross-departmental maritime strategy. The overarching policy framework is provided by the Marine Policy Statement, published on 18 March 2011. The National Policy Statement for Ports was designated on 26 January, and the Red Tape Challenge is delivering simplification initiatives to support growth in the maritime sector.

Shipping: Government Assistance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on the renewal of the European Commission's Guidelines on State Aid to Maritime Transport.

Michael Penning: The Government welcome the European Commission's questionnaire which will inform any future review of the Guidelines on State Aid to Maritime Transport. The Government believe it is important that the guidelines are clear, transparent and support economic growth with no new market distortions to the internationally competitive UK maritime sector.

Shipping: Pollution

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on the widening of the Sulphur Emission Control Areas to include all European waters; and what representations she has made to her European counterparts.

Michael Penning: The Government recognise that designation as an Emission Control Area (ECA) can deliver protection for the environment and human health. For example, the North sea sulphur ECA continues to be important in reducing the impact of shipping on air quality in the UK.
	None the less, for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to designate waters as an ECA, the littoral states of those waters must submit an application—with substantial evidence and scientific justification—to the IMO, where the submission will be scrutinised and assessed by the member states of the IMO.
	I have not made any representations to my European counterparts on this subject. The point has been made to the presidency, the other member states and the Commission by UK officials in the course of the EU negotiations which are in progress on the amending directive concerning sulphur content of marine fuels.

Shipping: Pollution

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the impact of sulphur regulations on the shipping industry.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport's Maritime and Coastguard Agency commissioned a report entitled “Impact Assessment for the revised Annex VI of MARPOL” which was completed in 2009 and which included consideration of the likely impacts of the stricter sulphur limits on the shipping industry. The report is accessible via the following link:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/impact_assessment_revised_annex_vi_-_July_2009.pdf
	MARPOL is the name by which the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships is commonly known, and annex VI to that convention sets out international standards for the prevention of air pollution from ships.
	When the UK implements the sulphur requirements of the revised MARPOL annex VI in domestic legislation, which I expect to be through the transposition of the amending directive concerning sulphur content of marine fuels (currently under negotiation in the EU), we are going to produce a formal impact assessment in accordance with the Government's Better Regulation agenda.

Shipping: Pollution

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost to the shipping industry of compliance with (a) the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and (b) the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships annex IV.

Michael Penning: As the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships has been updated and amended regularly since its initial adoption in 1973 and has been implemented through numerous UK regulations over that time period the UK Government have not carried out an overall, retrospective assessment of the convention's economic impact.
	Annex IV (Prevention of Pollution from Sewage) of MARPOL was implemented in the UK through the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage and Garbage) Regulations 2008/3257.
	The public consultation at the time and associated impact assessment concluded that there would be between £8 million to £9.6 million in transitional costs for the shipping industry (primarily the upgrading of vessel sewage treatment systems) with annual compliance costs of £500,000 to £600,000 in the UK. Annual benefits were estimated at £300,000 for the UK although the impact assessment noted that additional diffuse environmental benefits could not be monetised.

Shipping: Pollution

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect on the number of jobs in the shipping industry of compliance with (a) the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and (b) the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships annex IV.

Michael Penning: As the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships has been updated and amended regularly since its initial adoption in 1973 and has been implemented through numerous UK regulations over that time period the UK Government have not carried out an overall, retrospective assessment of the convention's impact on employment.
	The UK implementation of annex IV to the convention in 2008 was the subject of a full public consultation and impact assessment which did not identify any significant impact on jobs.

Shipping: Pollution

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost to the shipping industry of compliance with the Ballast Water Convention.

Michael Penning: As the UK is not currently a party to the Ballast Water Convention and the Convention itself is not yet in force internationally the Government have not as yet carried out a formal impact assessment.
	During the negotiation of the Convention the UK carried out some assessment work which indicated that compliance costs for vessels would vary significantly proportionate to a ship's ballast water capacity.
	International research indicates around 70,000 internationally trading ships will need treatment systems with the Convention applying equally to all ships regardless of flag. Such systems will vary in price depending on ship type, size and trading pattern but are expected to have an average installation cost in the £400,000 to £600,000 range per ship.
	In advance of the UK implementation of the Convention a full consultation and impact assessment will be carried out to consider the economic and environmental impact of the Convention.

Shipping: Pollution

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost to the shipping industry of compliance with the Nitrogen Oxide Regulations.

Michael Penning: The current “Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008/2924” (as amended) set requirements for emissions including nitrogen oxides (NOx) from shipping and reflect the 1997 protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Annex VI—air pollution). They were the subject of a full public consultation and impact assessment.
	The impact assessment for the 2008 UK regulations estimates that on a per-ship basis NOx certification would cost between £1,300 and £3,500 with minimal capital and operational compliance costs because international law has required all marine engines covered by the measure to be built in compliance since 2000 and the measure does not apply retrospectively to pre-2000 engines.
	The 2008 revision of MARPOL Annex VI has implications for NOx emissions but has yet to be incorporated in UK law. As part of our preparation to implement the NOx provisions they will be subject to a full impact assessment.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the tonnage tax in promoting the revival of the UK shipping industry.

Michael Penning: The Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue and Customs) and the Department for Transport carried out a post implementation review of the tonnage tax in 2004. The report concluded that the tonnage tax had had a very beneficial effect on the British shipping industry.
	The Government recognise the contribution, through the tonnage tax regime, that the shipping industry can make to our growth and skills agendas.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the effectiveness of the role of the tonnage tax on the UK shipping industry.

Michael Penning: The Inland Revenue (now HM Revenue and Customs) and the Department for Transport carried out a post implementation review of the tonnage tax in 2004. The report concluded that the tonnage tax had had a very beneficial effect on the British shipping industry.
	The Government recognise the contribution, through the tonnage tax regime, that the shipping industry can make to our growth and skills agendas.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the Permanent Secretary in her Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.

Norman Baker: In January 2012, the Acting Permanent Secretary and members of the senior management team participated in a workshop with Vodafone, as part of a study that Vodafone carried out for the Department for Transport.

CABINET OFFICE

Buildings

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants working for his Department are based in the 70 Whitehall building.

Francis Maude: There are 437 civil servants working for my Department in 70 Whitehall. The Cabinet Office estate strategy is to concentrate as many staff as possible in 70 Whitehall, as well as co-locating with HM Treasury at 1 Horse Guards Road, while disposing of other buildings. As a result, the number of civil servants in 70 Whitehall is 61 more than in May 2010. The expectation is that the number based at 70 Whitehall will therefore increase over time.

Charities

Lyn Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on what grounds an organisation can lose its charitable status in the UK.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission's chief executive to reply.
	Letter from Sam Younger, dated 18 April 2012
	As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question, on what grounds an organisation can lose its charitable status in the UK (103289).
	As the registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales, the Commission has a statutory function to determine whether organisations are or are not charities. According to the Charities Act 2011, an organisation is a charity if it is established only for charitable purposes (as defined in the Act) and falls within the jurisdiction of the High Court.
	Where the purposes of an organisation originally established for charitable purposes cease to be charitable, for instance because of changing social circumstances, the organisation does not cease to be a charity. In this situation, the charity trustees are under an obligation to secure the effective use of the organisation's property for charitable purposes. This will involve the trustees either changing the objects of the organisation by following the appropriate procedure or applying to the Commission for a cy-près scheme. Such a scheme will change the purposes for which the property can be applied so that they continue to be charitable.
	Where the organisation has never been established for charitable purposes and was registered by mistake, the organisation can be removed from the Register of Charities. This may have tax implications for the organisation concerned.
	Where there is serious mismanagement or misconduct in a charity, this would not lead to the charity losing its charitable status. It is likely that in such circumstances one or more of the trustees will be in breach of their trustee duties. The Commission's main role in such cases is to protect charitable assets and secure their proper application. The Commission has wide powers (for example, freezing assets, suspending or removing trustees and directing certain actions). Our approach is to help the charity get back on track and continue its charitable mission.
	A charity can wind up, provided any remaining assets (after the settlement of liabilities) are used for charitable purposes in accordance with the organisation's governing document or applied cy-près. Usually this entails transfer to another charity with similar purposes.
	Please note that charities in Scotland and Northern Ireland fall within the responsibility of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland respectively.

Departmental Standards

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 217W, on departmental standards, what assessment he has made of how the Regulations' requirement that the standards have intellectual property made irrevocably available on a royalty free basis incentivises innovation through appropriate rewards.

Francis Maude: The definition of open standards in my answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 217W, appeared in a procurement policy note. This was not a regulation.
	Public comment on the definition was invited through the UK Government Open Standards Survey. The feedback received has informed the development of a public consultation on “Open Standards: Open Opportunities”, which is currently in progress and closes on 3 May.
	A revised definition of open standards is included in this consultation. The proposed policy focuses on software interoperability, data and documents. The consultation does not cover the specification of broader information and communications technology standards, such as hardware or telecommunications.
	The consultation proposes that for the purpose of UK Government software interoperability, data and document formats, the definition of open standards is those standards which fulfil the following criteria:
	are maintained through a collaborative and transparent decision-making process that is independent of any individual supplier and that is accessible to all interested parties;
	are adopted by a specification or standardisation organisation, or a forum or consortium with a feedback and ratification process to ensure quality;
	are published, thoroughly documented and publicly available at zero or low cost;
	as. a whole have been implemented and shared under different development approaches and on a number of platforms from more than one supplier, demonstrating interoperability and platform/vendor independence; or
	owners of patents essential to implementation have agreed to licence these on a royalty free and non-discriminatory basis for implementing the standard and using or interfacing with other implementations which have adopted that same standard. Alternatively, patents may be covered by a non-discriminatory promise of non-assertion. Licences, terms and conditions must be compatible with implementation of the standard in both proprietary and open source software. These rights should be irrevocable unless there is a breach of licence conditions.
	Evidence is being sought during this public consultation period on whether the proposed policy will be detrimental for innovation and competition.

Efficiency and Reform Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff are employed in his Department's Efficiency and Reform Group; and how many such people receive a salary over £100,000 at full-time equivalent.

Francis Maude: Since June 2010, the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG), working with Government Departments, has already delivered £3.75 billion of efficiency savings in 2010-11. Savings for 2011-12 are anticipated to be around £5 billion. In the same period, the total cost of running the Efficiency and Reform Group has reduced by 38%, from around £37 million in 2010-11 to around £23 million.
	When ERG was created in June 2010, there were 15 staff earning over £100,000. At March 2012 there were 11 staff in ERG who received an annual full-time equivalent salary over £100,000, from a total headcount of around 440 full-time equivalent staff.

Efficiency and Reform Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how he measures the progress of the Efficiency and Reform Group in driving efficiency since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: The progress of the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG) is measured by results. In the first financial year of operation ERG delivered cash savings of £3.75 billion. This was independently audited and subsequently corroborated by the National Audit Office. ERG will deliver even greater savings this year and further announcements will follow. Progress is also measured by the objectives set in the Cabinet Office Business Plan which is reported monthly on the No. 10 website:
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/transparency/srp/view-srp/1

Entry Clearances: Iran

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Iranian nationals are residing in the UK on a visa.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated April 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking how many Iranian nationals are residing in the UK on a visa (103805).
	The most recent estimate of the number of Iranian nationals who reside in the UK is 41,000 with a corresponding margin of error of +/- 9,000. This estimate, along with other published Population by Country of Birth and Nationality estimates, is based on the Annual Population Survey and relates to the 12 month period of July 2010 to June 2011. These can be found on the ONS website, table 2.3 at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/migration-statistics-quarterly-report/february-2012/population-by-country-of-birth-and-nationality.xls
	The margin of error refers to the 95 per cent confidence interval and is a measure of the uncertainty associated with making inferences from a sample.
	Information on the immigration status of these Iranian nationals is not available.

National Lottery

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding the Big Lottery Fund is planning to allocate for (a) working with the private sector and (b) growing the social investment market in each year until 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: BIG has made no specific funding allocation to working with the private sector. On social investment, BIG's England Committee has allocated £4.3 million for this financial year. No other formal allocation has been made.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Airbus SAS: China

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department (a) has held and (b) plans to hold with its EU counterparts on mitigating the effect of China's decision to suspend its Airbus orders in response to the introduction of the EU Emissions Trading System scheme.

Mark Prisk: The UK is engaging through the EU Transport and Environmental Ministerial Councils to monitor the current situation with regard to possible retaliatory action in response to the inclusion of aviation within the EU Emissions Trading System.
	Going forward, the Government will continue to ensure that UK business interests are not jeopardised and are represented at the highest level.

Antarctic

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to support British activities in the Antarctic region.

David Willetts: holding answer 16 April 2012
	The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is responsible for the UK's scientific activities in Antarctica and provides the UK presence in the Antarctic and Southern Atlantic. BAS is a wholly-owned Research Centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and decisions on its research activities/programmes are ultimately the responsibility of NERC. NERC is strategically committed to the existing base footprint and a world-class science programme.
	In 2010/11 total expenditure on BAS was £41.5 million. In addition, since 2010, NERC has awarded £14.5 million in grants for Antarctic related research. BAS research helps deliver insight into global issues such as climate change, energy and food security.
	BAS operates five research stations, two Royal Research Ships and five aircraft in and around Antarctica. The Government are investing £50 million in the revolutionary Halley VI Research Station for atmospheric research from ground level into space, including space weather. The construction of the station was completed in February 2012 and will be operational for the 2012/13 season.
	BAS researchers are currently leading a €2.54 million EU project to forecast space weather. The SPACECAST system went live on 1 March 2012 and will provide forecasts so that satellite operators can better protect their satellites from space radiation damage.
	In the 2012/13 field season, BAS will commence a number of projects with UK universities including the £7.4 million iSTAR and the £7 million Subglacial Lake Ellsworth Programmes. The former will investigate the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet whereas the latter will collect water and sediment samples from a lake buried beneath three kilometres of ice.

Aviation: EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what work his Department has undertaken on the possible effect of the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System Scheme on UK (a) trade revenues, (b) industry and (c) growth.

Mark Prisk: In July 2010 the UK Government published a full Impact Assessment on the second stage of transposition of EU legislation to include aviation in the European Union Emissions Trading System.
	A copy of the full Impact Assessment can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/euetsaviationsecondstage/909-ia-second-stage-transposition-euets.pdf

Business

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if his Department will establish a methodology for measuring the effects of government decisions on small businesses.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 18 April 2012
	The Government already measure the effects of their decisions on small businesses in a number of ways. There is no one single methodology that completes this task or would be appropriate to do so.
	A combination of Government surveys, research, policy appraisal and evaluation, management information, economic data, consultation and working through key stakeholders provides an overall picture of the effects of Government decisions on small business.
	Examples of surveys, economic data and evaluation of specific initiatives include:
	The Small Business Survey which is conducted every two years and provides detailed data on SME performance and the factors that affect this:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/enterprise/docs/b/11-p74-bis-small-business-survey-2010
	The SME Barometer provides up to date data on SME performance and the key factors affecting this:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/enterprise/docs/s/11-p75c-sme-business-barometer-august-2011
	The economic evaluation of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee (SFLG) scheme conducted in 2010 provided a comprehensive assessment of the wider economic impact of SFLG:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file54112.doc

Business: Research

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the (a) number and (b) value was of Small Business Research Initiative contracts (i) awarded, (ii) designated as Phase One contracts and (iii) designated as Phase Two contracts awarded by each department and agency in each quarter since April 2008.

Mark Prisk: The number and value was of Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) contracts awarded in total by each Department and agency since April 2008 is:
	
		
			 Organisation Number of contracts awarded in total Contract (£000) 
			 MOD 360 21,936.51 
			 Dept Health 18 4,036.344 
			 NHS 50 5,351.438 
			 DFT 3 300 
			 Home Office 19 2,226.16 
			 BIS 11 988.766 
			 DECC 34 1,941.063 
			 DEFRA 31 1,682.358 
			 TSB 302 17,968.45 
			 Devolved Administrations 4 81.349 
			 Food Standards Agency 9 419.838 
			 Ordnance Survey 6 181 
			 NC3Rs 5 3,496.22 
			 Total 852 60,609.49 
		
	
	The number and value of Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) contracts awarded at Phase 1 by each department and agency in total since April 2008 is:
	
		
			 Organisation Number of phase one contracts Contract (£000) 
			 MOD 358 20,919.51 
			 Dept Health 13 1228 
			 NHS 41 2,958.496 
			 DFT 3 300 
			 Home Office 18 1,976.16 
			 BIS 7 490.726 
			 DECC 25 441.148 
			 DEFRA 29 691.954 
			 TSB 212 5,229.445 
			 Devolved Administrations 4 81.349 
			 Food Standards Agency 9 419.838 
			 Ordnance Survey 6 181 
			 NC3Rs 5 3,496.22 
			 Total 730 38,413.84 
		
	
	The number and value of SBRI contracts awarded at Phase 2 by each department and agency in total since April 2008 is:
	
		
			 Organisation Number of phase two contracts Contract (£000) 
			 MOD 2 1017 
			 Dept Health 5 2,808.344 
		
	
	
		
			 NHS 9 2,392.942 
			 DFT 0 0 
			 Home Office 1 250 
			 BIS 4 498.04 
			 DECC 9 1,499.915 
			 DEFRA 2 990.404 
			 TSB 90 12739 
			 Devolved Administrations 0 0 
			 Food Standards Agency 0 0 
			 Ordnance Survey 0 0 
			 NC3Rs 0 0 
			 Total 122 22,195.65 
			 Notes: 1. The Technology Strategy Board does not hold data for all MOD competitions on how many Phase 2 contracts were awarded. 2. For a small number of competitions only one phase was held which is included in the Phase 1 figures, however, a number of these might be considered to be phase 2 type projects. 3. Only the lead Department/Agency is listed. In some cases the competitions would have been across more than one organisation. 
		
	
	A quarterly breakdown by each Department has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Export Controls: Drugs

Anna Soubry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking with its EU counterparts to prevent companies exporting drugs for use in executions.

Mark Prisk: With the UK firmly in the lead following our introduction of domestic controls on the export to the United States of certain drugs which can be used in execution by lethal injection, the EU Commission introduced measures to amend annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 (which is known as the ‘Torture Regulation’) in October last year to include sodium thiopental and other ‘short and intermediate acting barbiturate anaesthetic agents’. This means that exporters across the EU are now required to seek permission from their national government to export any such drugs to a destination outside the EU.

Higher Education: Admissions

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many degree-level places are being offered for the study of science, technology and engineering subjects in higher education institutions in the academic year commencing autumn 2012; how many such places are available at each institution; and what estimate has been made of the number of such places available in each of the next 10 years;
	(2)  how many students entered higher education to study science, technology and engineering subjects at degree level in each of the last 10 years; how many such students have acquired a degree-level qualification; and how many such students studied at each higher education institution.

David Willetts: holding answer 13 March 2012
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not hold information on the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses offered by each university. However, the Government set out, in their January Grant Letter published by BIS, that high cost STEM and strategically important and vulnerable subjects (SIVS) remain funding priorities. Under the reformed HE funding arrangements, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will continue to pay a core teaching allocation to high cost subjects, like science, technology and engineering and provide support for SIVS. BIS Ministers also wrote to HEFCE prior to the publication of the January Grant Letter to give an explicit direction that, in freeing up student number controls from 2012/13 onwards, the Council must ensure that provision of, and support for SIVs is not disadvantaged. HEFCE published a circular on 17 October 2011 that detailed how it would allocate student places for 2012/13 and this contained specific protections for SIVS.
	HEFCE does not generally have targets in respect of the number of or participation in STEM courses, although targets are set in relation to the numbers of students on undergraduate medical and dental courses and particular conditions of grant apply to some allocations to support provision in strategically important and vulnerable subjects, which includes some STEM subjects.
	The latest available information on first degree undergraduate entrants, enrolments and those qualifying with a degree-level qualification to STEM subjects at UK higher education institutions are shown separately for each of the last nine years in tables which will be placed in the Library. In 2002/03 a new subject classification was introduced to the HESA data called the Joint Academic Coding System (JACS) and therefore subject data for earlier years is not directly comparable. Information in the tables is broken down by institution and a total for UK is also given. Information for the 2011/12 academic year will become available from January 2013.

Higher Education: Admissions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the role that (a) bursaries and (b) other factors play in widening access to education.

David Willetts: holding answer 21 March 2012
	According to analysis conducted by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) bursaries, as part of the previous student funding arrangements, have had no impact on students' universities choices. With student finance changes coming into force from autumn 2012, OFFA will closely monitor the impact of fee waivers and bursaries and plans to conduct research to see if one method of financial support is more effective than another in promoting access. Guidance from the Director of Fair Access to institutions last year made clear his expectation that financial support should be targeted at the most disadvantaged students and that he would challenge the use of untargeted bursaries.
	Prior educational attainment remains the most significant predictor of participation in higher education but a large number of factors can influence individuals' decisions on whether and where to apply to higher education. Our White Paper "Students at the Heart of the System" BIS, June 2011 (Cm 8122), sets out the challenges faced by the higher education sector and the Government's response to those challenges, including in respect of widening access.

OECD: Multinational Companies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to promote the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises to (a) UK businesses and (b) other countries.

Mark Prisk: The UK National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises is based in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. As part of its published working arrangements—and as part of its obligations set out in the guidelines—it has a responsibility to promote the guidelines to interested stakeholders, and to work with NCPs in other countries to share best practice in the implementation of the guidelines. In line with this, BIS officials regularly participate in meetings and speak at conferences with a wide range of stakeholders, including the business community, to promote the use of the guidelines. Officials also have regular contact with officials in other countries. Most recently, the NCP hosted a visit from officials from the governments of Colombia and Norway on 28 February 2012, and is participating in an OECD peer review of the Japanese NCP taking place during April 2012.

OECD: Multinational Companies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the outcomes of the UK National Contact Point's determinations.

Mark Prisk: Under the published arrangements for determining and monitoring the outcomes of cases referred to the UK National Point (NCP), there is no direct oversight role for Ministers. The independent Steering Board, which contains representatives from key Government Departments and external stakeholder organisations, monitors whether or not the handling and outcome of individual cases is in line with the published arrangements.
	At the end of the process, the NCP prepares a final statement, setting out the outcome of either mediation between both parties to the dispute, or the examination process under which the NCP determines whether or not the OECD guidelines on multinational enterprises have been breached. The final statement may include recommendations for follow-up action to bring the company into compliance with the guidelines, with a date by which it must report on progress. Final statements and follow-ups to final statements are published on the BIS website at:
	www.bis.gov.uk/nationalcontactpoint

OECD: Multinational Companies

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department takes to ensure that government departments and agencies are aware of the decisions of the UK National Contact Point.

Mark Prisk: The UK National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises is based in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The NCP works as appropriate with all Government Departments with an interest in particular cases which it is asked to investigate. Those Departments which have the most significant policy interest in the work of the NCP—Department for International Development, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for Work and Pensions, UK Trade and Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Department—are represented on the NCP's independent Steering Board, whose responsibilities include oversight of decisions taken by the NCP. Decisions taken by the NCP are also published on the BIS website at:
	www.bis.gov.uk/nationalcontactpoint

Office of Fair Trading

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what responsibilities of the Office of Fair Trading will be transferred to the Citizens Advice Service; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland will take over responsibility for Consumer Education from OFT in 2013-14.
	Responsibility for the ‘Consumer Direct’ telephone advice line transferred from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland on 2 April.

Office of Fair Trading

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of redundancy costs when the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission are merged; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Following the announcement in March of the Government's plans for the reform of the competition regime the Government are now working closely with the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission to plan the transition to the new Competition and Markets Authority and to consider the implications for their staff.

Postage Stamps: Prices

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of whether the rise in the price of postage stamps will have a differential effect on people who do not have broadband; and what steps he proposes to take to minimise any such effect.

Norman Lamb: Under the Postal Services Act 2011, Parliament gave Ofcom, as an independent regulator, the primary duty of securing the universal postal service. The Act also sets out minimum requirements for a universal postal service and this includes a service at affordable prices in accordance with a uniform public tariff. It is therefore the responsibility of Ofcom—the independent market expert—to monitor and assess the effect of postal price increases on consumers.
	Following consultation, Ofcom has removed traditional price controls on Royal Mail's postal prices and imposed a safeguard cap on second class letters to ensure that a basic universal service remains available and affordable to vulnerable consumers. Given the importance of ensuring that universal services remain affordable over time, Ofcom will closely monitor the effect of future prices on consumers. The reasoning underlying Ofcom's decision takes account of concerns raised about vulnerable and low internet usage consumers. The decision paper “Securing the Universal Postal Service—Decision on the new regulatory framework” can be accessed on its website:
	www.ofcom.org.uk
	The Government welcomed Royal Mail's subsequent announcement that it will offer discounted stamps to some low-income households this Christmas to help reduce the impact of its price increases. I am therefore satisfied that Ofcom has made its decision taking into account the effect on all vulnerable consumers and that further assessment by Government is not necessary.

Students: Fees and Charges

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if his Department will bring forward proposals to introduce means-tested support for course costs additional to tuition fees available across all university departments.

David Willetts: holding answer 21 March 2012
	There are no plans to introduce specific means-tested support for course costs.
	Students are able to apply for maintenance grants and maintenance loans. These are intended as a contribution towards the living and course costs incurred while in higher education.
	Increased maximum amounts of maintenance grant and maintenance loan will be available to new students starting full-time courses from September 2012 onwards.
	Students from households with incomes up to £42,600 will receive a non-repayable maintenance grant, with the maximum grant of £3,250 available to those with household incomes up to £25,000.
	All students, regardless of household income, will be entitled to a maintenance loan of at least £3,575. Those on certain household incomes will be entitled to a larger loan of up to £5,500. Loans of up to £7,675 are available to those studying in London to reflect the higher cost of studying there, and loans of up to £4,375 are available to those living at the parental home.
	An additional means-tested grant is available to students taking courses in medicine and dentistry, towards travel costs incurred in order to attend a clinical placement as part of the course.